CONFESSION  OF    FAITH, 


OWNED    AND    CONSENTED    TO 


ELDERS    AJ¥I>    ?IESSE*GERS 


<&i)\xtttit8  in  the  <£oloug  of  ©outucttcttt, 

IN    NEW-ENGLAND; 

ASSEMBLED    BY    DELEGATION    AT    SAYBROOK, 
SEPTEMBER    9TH,  1708. 


Eph.  4 : 5. One  Faith. 

Col.  2  :  5.    Joying  and  beholding  your  order,  and  the  stead- 
fastness of  your  faith  in  Christ. 


NEW-LONDON,  CONN.  PRINTED,  1710. 

HARTFORD: 

RE-PRINTED    BY    P.    B.    GLEASON  &  CO. 

NO.    146,   MAIN-STREET. 
MDCCCXXXVIII. 


ki  At  a  meeting  of  the  General  Association  of  Connecticut,  at 
the  house  of  Rev.  Noah  Porter,  jun.,  in  New  Milford,  on  the 
third  Tuesday  of  June,  1837— 

11  Resolved,  That  Rev.  Messrs.  Hewit,  Bacon,  and  Cleaveland, 
be  a  Committee  to  superintend  the  publication  of  an  accurate 
re-print  of  the  Saybrook  Platform." 

The  foregoing  is  a  true  extract  from  the  original  Minutes, 
on  file. 

Attest, 

C.  CHAP1N,  Register  of  the  said 

General  Association. 


We  the  subscribers  having  examined  the  following  re-print 
of  the  "Confession  of  Faith,"  and  "  Heads  of  Agreement,"  and 
11  Articles  for  the  administration  of  Church  Discipline,"  agreed 
upon  and  consented  to  by  the  Synod  at  Saybrook,  September  9. 
1708, — do  certify  that  the  same  is  correctly  copied  from  the 
edition  published  at  Bridgeport  in  the  year  1810. 

LEONARD  BACON, 
E.  L.  CLEAVELAND. 
New  Haven,  26th  Dec.  1837. 


PREFACE, 


Among  the  memorable  Providences  relating  to 
our  English  Nation  in  the  last  century,  must  be 
acknowledged  the  settling  of  English  Colonies  in 
the  American  parts  of  the  world  ;  among  all  which 
this  hath  been  peculiar  unto  and  to  the  distinguish- 
ing glory  of  that  tract  called  New-England,  that 
the  colonies  there  were  originally  formed,  not  for 
the  advantage  of  trade,  and  a  worldly  interest ; 
but  upon  the  most  noble  foundation,  even  of  reli- 
gion, and  the  Liberty  of  their  Consciences,  with 
respect  unto  the  ordinances  of  the  Gospel  admin- 
istered in  the  purity  and  power  of  them  ;  a  happi- 
ness then  not  to  be  enjoyed  in  their  native  soil. 

We  joyfully  congratulate  the  religious  liberty 
of  our  brethren  in  the  late  auspicious  reign  of 
K.  William  and  Q.  Mary,  of  blessed  memory,  and 
in  the  present  glorious  reign,  and  from  the  bottom 
of  our  hearts  bless  the  Lord,  whose  prerogative  it 
is  to  reserve  the  times  and  seasons  in  his  own 
hand  ;  who  also  hath  inspired  the  pious  mind  of 
her  most  sacred  Majesty,  whose  reign  we  con- 
stantly and  unfeignedly  pray  may  be  long  and  glo- 


IV  PREFACE. 

rious,  with  royal  resolutions,  inviolably  to  main- 
tain the  toleration. 

Deus  enim — hoee  Otia  fecit. 

Undoubtedly  if  the  same  had  been  the  liberty 
of  those  times,  our  fathers  would  have  been  far 
from  exchanging  a  most  pleasant  land  (dulce  so- 
lum patriai)  for  a  vast  and  howling  wilderness  ; 
since  for  the  enjoyment  of  so  desirable  liberty,  a 
considerable  number  of  learned,  worthy,  and  pi- 
ous persons,  were,  by  a  divine  impulse  and  extra- 
ordinary concurrence  of  dispositions,  engaged  to 
adventure  their  lives,  families,  and  estates,  upon 
the  vast  ocean,  following  the  Lord  into  a  wilder- 
ness, a  land  then  not  sown  ;*  wherein  innumerable 
difficulties  staring  them  in  the  face,  were  outbid 
by  heroic  resolution,  magnanimity,  and  confidence 
in  the  Lord  alone.  Our  fathers  trusted  in  the 
Lord  and  were  delivered,  they  trusted  in  him  and 
were  not  confounded. -\  It  was  their  care  to  he 
with  the  Lord,  and  their  indulgence,  that  the  Lord 
was  with  them,%  to  a  wonder,  preserving,  support- 
ing, protecting,  and  animating  them  ;  dispatching 
and  destroying  the  pagan  natives  by  extraordinary 
sickness  and  mortality,  that  there  might  he  room 
for  his  people  to  serve  the  Lord  our  God  iw.§  It 
was  the  glory  of  our  fathers,  that  they  heartily 

*  Jer.  2:2.  f  Psalms  22  :  4,  5. 

|  2  Chron.  15  :  2.  $  Psalms  80  ;  8,  9, 


PREFACE.  V 

professed  the  only  rule  of  their  religion,  from  the 
very  first,  to  be  the  Holy  Scripture,  according 
whereunto,  so  far  as  they  were  persuaded,  upon 
diligent  enquiry,  solicitous  search,  and  faithful 
prayer  conformed,  was  their  faith,  their  worship, 
together  with  the  whole  administration  of  the 
house  of  Christ,  and  their  manners,  allowance 
being  given  to  human  failures  and  imperfections. 

That  which  they  were  most  solicitous  about, 
and  wherein  their  liberty  had  been  restrained, 
respecting  the  worship  of  God,  and  the  govern- 
ment of  the  Church  of  Christ,  according  to  his 
own  appointment,  their  faith  and  profession  of  re- 
ligion being  the  same  which  was  generally  re- 
ceived in  all  the  reformed  churches  of  Europe, 
and  in  substance  the  Assembly's  Confession,  as 
shall  be  shewn  anon. 

It  cannot  be  denied,  that  the  usage  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  whose  faith  wholly  rested  upon  the 
Word  of  God  respecting  Confessions  of  Faith,  is 
very  ancient,  and  that  which  is  universally  ac- 
knowledged to  be  most  so,  and  of  universal  ac- 
ceptance and  consent,  is  commonly  called  the 
Apostles'  Creed,  a  symbol,  sign,  or  badge  of  the 
Christian  religion,  called  the  Apostles,  not  because 
they  composed  it,  for  then  it  must  have  been  re- 
ceived into  the  canon  of  the  Holy  Bible,  but  be- 
cause the  matter  of  it  agreeth  with  the  doctrine, 

and  is  taken  out  of  the  writings  of  the  Apostles. 
1* 


VI  PREFACE. 

Consequent  hereunto,  as  the  necessity  of  the 
Church,  for  the  correcting,  condemning,  and  sup- 
pressing of  heresy  and  error  required,  have  been 
emitted,  ancient  and  famous  Confessions  of  Faith, 
composed  and  agreed  upon  by  Oecumenical  Coun- 
cils, e.  g.  of  Nice  against  Arius,  of  Constantino- 
ple against  Macedonius,  of  Ephesus  against  Nes- 
torius,  of  Calcedon  against  Eutyches.  And  when 
the  light  of  reformation  broke  forth  to  the  disper- 
sing of  popish  darkness,  the  reformed  nations 
agreed  upon  Confessions  of  Faith,  famous  in  the 
world,  and  of  especial  service  to  theirs  and  stand- 
ing ages.  And  among  those  of  latter  times,  pub- 
lished in  our  nation,  most  worthy  of  repute  and 
acceptance,  we  take  to  be  the  Confession  of 
Faith,  composed  by  the  reverend  Assembly  of  Di- 
vines convened  at  Westminster,  with  that  of  the 
Savoy,  id  the  substance,  and  in  expressions,  for  the 
most  part  the  same  ;  the  former*  professedly  as- 
sented and  attested  to,  by  the  Fathers  of  our  coun- 
try, by  unanimous  vote  of  the  Synod  of  Elders 
and  Messengers  of  the  Churches,  met  at  Cam- 
bridge, the  last  of  the  6th  month,  1648.  The 
latter  owned  and  consented  to  by  the  Elders  and 
Messengers  of  the  Churches  assembled  at  Boston, 
May  12th,  1680.  The  same,  we  doubt  not  to 
profess,  to    have    been   the  constant  faith  of  the 

*  See  the  Preface  to  the  Platform  of  Church  Discipline. 


PREFACE.  Vll 

churches  in  this  Colony,  from  the  first  foundation 
of  them.  And  that  it  may  appear  to  the  Chris- 
tian world,  that  our  churches  do  not  maintain  dif- 
fering opinions  in  the  doctrine  of  religion,  nor  are 
desirous,  for  any  reason,  to  conceal  the  faith  we 
are  persuaded  of,  the  Elders  and  Messengers  of 
the  Churches  in  this  Colony  of  Connecticut,  in 
New  England,  by  virtue  of  the  appointment  and 
encouragement  of  the  Honorable  the  General  As- 
sembly, convened  by  delegation  at  Saybrook,  Sep- 
tember 9th,  1708,  unanimously  agreed,  that  the 
Confession  of  Faith,  owned  and  consented  unto 
by  the  Elders  and  Messengers  of  the  Churches 
assembled  at  Boston,  in  New  England,  May  12th, 
1680,  being  the  second  session  of  that  Synod,  be 
recommended  to  the  Honorable  General  Assembly 
of  this  Colony  at  their  next  session,  for  their  pub- 
lic testimony  thereto,  as  the  faith  of  the  Churches 
of  this  Colony ;  which  Confession,  together  with 
the  Heads  of  Union,  and  Articles  for  the  Adminis- 
tration of  Church  Government,  herewith  emitted, 
were  presented  unto,  and  approved  and  establish- 
ed by  the  said  General  Assembly,  at  New  Haven, 
on  the  14th  of  October,  1708. 

This  Confession  of  Faith,  we  offer  as  our  firm 
persuasion,  well  and  fully  grounded  upon  the  Ho- 
ly Scripture,  and  commend  the  same  unto  all, 
and  particularly  to  the  people  of  our  Colony,  to 
be  examined,  accepted,  and  constantly  maintained. 


V1J1  PREFACE. 

We  do  not  assume  to  ourselves,  that  any  thing  be 
taken  upon  trust  from  us,  but  commend  to  our 
people  these  following  counsels  : 

I.  That  you  be  immoveably  and  unchangeably 
agreed  in  the  only  sufficient,  and  invariable  rule  of 
religion,  which  is  the  Holy  Scripture,  the  fixed 
Canon*  uncapable  of  addition  or  diminution.  You 
ought  to  account  nothing  ancient,  that  will  not 
stand  by  this  rule,-)-  nor  any  thing  new  that  will. 
Do  not  hold  yourselves  bound  to  unscriptural  rites 
in  religion,  wherein  custom  itself  doth  many  times 
misguide.  Believe  it  to  be  the  honor  of  religion 
to  resign  and  captivate  our  wisdom  and  faith  to 
Divine  revelation.^: 

II.  That  you  be  determined  by  this  Rule  in  the 
whole  of  religion.  That  your  faith  be  right  and 
Divine,  the  Word  of  God  must  be  the  foundation  of 
it,  and  the  authority  of  the  Word  the  reason  of  it.§ 
You  may  believe  the  most  important  articles  of 
Faith  with  no  more  than  a  human  faith  :  And  this 
is  evermore  the  cause,  when  the  principle  Faith 
is  resolved  into,  is  any  other  than  the  Holy  Scrip- 
ture. For  an  orthodox  Christian  to  resolve  his  faith 
into  education,  instruction,  and  the  persuasion  of 
others,  is  not  an  higher  reason,  than  a  Papist, 
Mahometan,  or  Pagan  can  produce  for  his  religion. 

*Isa.  8:20.     f  Rev.  21:18,19.     J  Jer.  6  :  16  ;    Matt.  19  :  8, 
or  44  :  17.  J  Matt.  11  :  27 ;  1  John  5  :  9.        ||  Luke  10  :  26. 


PREFACE.  IX 

Pay  also  unto  God  the  worship,  that  will  bear 
the  trial  of  and  receive  establishment  by  this  rule. 
Have  always  in  readiness  a  Divine  warrant  for  all 
the  worship  you  perform  to  God.  Believe  that 
worship  is  accepted,  and  that  only,  which  is  di- 
rected unto  and  commanded,  and  hath  the  promise 
of  a  blessing  from  the  Word  of  God.  Believe 
that  worship  not  divinely  commanded  is  in  vain* 
nor  will  answer  the  necessities  and  expectations 
of  a  Christian,  and  is  a  worshipping,  you  know 
not  what.f  Believe  in  all  divine  worship  ;  it  is 
not  enough  that  this  or  that  act  of  worship  is  not 
forbidden  in  the  Word  of  God  ;  if  it  be  not  com- 
manded, and  you  perform  it,  you  may  fear  that 
you  will  be  found  guilty  and  exposed  to  divine  dis- 
pleasure. J  Nadab  and  Abihu  paid  dear  for  offer- 
ing in  divine  worship  that  which  the  Lord  com- 
manded them  not.  It  is  an  honor  done  unto  Christ, 
when  you  account  that  only  decent,  orderly,  and 
convenient  in  his  house,  which  depends  upon  the 
institution  and  appointment  of  himself,  who  is  the 
only  Head  and  Law-giver  of  his  church. 

III.  That  you  be  well-grounded  in  the  firm 
truths  of  religion.  We  have  willingly  taken  pains 
to  add  the  Holy  Scriptures,  whereon  every  point 
of  faith  contained  in  this  Confession  doth  depend, 
and  is  borne  up  by,  and  commend  the  same  to  your 

*  Matt.  15  :  9.       f  John  4  :  22  ;  Jer.  7  :  22.       \  Lev.  10 : 1,  2. 


X  PREFACE. 

diligent  perusal,  that  you  be  established  in  the 
truth,  and  your  faith  rest  upon  its  proper  basis,  the 
Word  of  God.*  Follow  the  example  of  the  noble 
Bereans,  search  the  Scriptures,  grow  in  grace 
and  the  knowledge  of  Christ,  be  not  children  in 
understanding,  but  men.  Labor  for  a  sound,  con- 
firmed knowledge  of  these  points  in  the  evidence 
of  them.  See  that  they  be  deeply  rooted  in  your 
minds  and  hearts,  that  so  you  be  not  an  easy  prey 
to  such  as  lie  in  wait  to  deceive. -\  For  the  want 
hereof  to  be  condoled  is  the  unhappiness  of  many, 
ever  learning,  and  never  coming  to  the  knowledge 
of  the  truth.:]: 

IV.  That  having  applied  the  rule  of  Holy  Scrip, 
ture  to  all  the  Articles  of  this  Confession,  and  found 
the  same  upon  trial,  the  unchangeable  and  eternal 
truths  of  God  :  §  You  remember  and  hold  them  fast, 
contend  earnestly  for  them  as  the  faith  once  de- 
livered to  the  saints.  Value  them  as  your  great 
charter,  the  instrument  of  your  salvation,  the  evi- 
dence of  your  not  failing  of  the  grace  of  God, 
and  receiving  a  crown  that  fadeth  not  away.|| 
Maintain  them,  and  every  of  them,  all  your  days, 
with  undaunted  resolution  against  all  opposition, 
whatever   the  event  be,  and  the  same  transmit 

*  Acts  17  :  10,  11  j  John  5  :  39  ;  2  Pet.  3  :  18  ;  lCor.  14  :  20. 
f  Eph.  4  :  13,  14.         1 2  Tim.  3:7.  }  Rev.  3  :  3 ;  Jude  3. 

||  1  Cor.  15  :  18  ;  1  Cor.  16  :  13  ;   Psal.  78  ■  5. 


PREFACE.  XI 

safe  and  pure  to  posterity :  Having  bought  the 
truth  on  no  hand  sell  it.  Believe  *  the  truth  will 
make  you  free  :  Faithful  is  he  that  hath  promised  : 
So  shall  none  take  away  your  crown. 

Finally  :  Do  not  think  it  enough  that  your  faith 
and  order  be  according  to  the  Word  of  God,  but 
live  accordingly.^  It  is  not  enough  to  believe  well, 
you  run  yourself  into  the  greatest  hazard  unless 
you  be  careful  to  live  well,  and  that  this  be4  all 
your  life  and  conversation  must  be  agreeable  to 
the  rule  of  God's  Word.  This  is  the  rule  of  a 
Christian  conversation  and  practical  reformation.  § 
Rest  not  in  the  form  of  godliness,  denying  the  pow- 
er of  it.  Stir  up  an  holy  zeal,  strengthen  the 
things  that  remain  that  are  ready  to  die.  Be  not 
carried  away  with  the  corruptions,  temptations, 
and  evil  examples  of  the  times,  but  be  blameless 
and  without  rebuke,  the  sons  of  God  in  a  froward 
generation^  they  shall  walk  with  me  in  white,  for 
they  are  worthy. 

Remember  ye  our  brethren  in  this  colony,  that 
we  are  a  part  of  that  body,1F  for  which  the  provi- 
dence of  God  hath  wrought  wonders,  and  are  ob- 
liged by  and  accountable  for  all  the  mercies  dis- 

*  John  23  :  23  ;  John  8  :  32  ;   Heb.  10  :  13;  Rev.  3  :  11. 
f  Tit.  2  :  11,  12.        \  Gal.  6  :  16  ;  Mic.  6  :  8. 
\  2  Tim.  3  :  15  ;  Rev.  3  :  19  ;  Rev.  3:2;  Fhil.  2  ■  15. 
||  Rev.  3:4.        1  Hosea  12  :  2,  3. 


Xll  PREFACE. 

pensed  from  the  beginning  of  our  fathers  settling 
this  country  until  now.  There  he  spake  with  vs.* 
That  the  practical  piety  and  serious  religion  of 
our  progenitors  is  exemplary  and  for  our  imita- 
tion,"]" and  will  reflect  confounding  shame  on  us, 
if  we  prove  degenerate.  The  Lord  grant  that  the 
noble  design  of  our  fathers  in  coming  to  this  land, 
may  not  be  forgotten  by  us,  nor  by  our  children 
after  us,  even  the  interest  of  religion  which  we 
can  never  exchange  for  a  temporal  interest  with- 
out the  foulest  degeneracy,  and  most  inexcusable 
defection.:):  To  conclude,  the  solemn  rebukes  of 
Providence,  from  time  to  time,  in  a  series  of  judg- 
ments, and  in  particular,  the  general  drought  in  the 
summer  past,  together  with  the  grievous  disappoint- 
ment of  our  military  undertaking,  the  distresses, 
sickness,  and  mortality  of  our  camp,  cannot  success- 
fully be  improved  but  by  a  self -humbling  considera- 
tion of  our  ways,  and  a  thorough  repentance  of  all 
that  is  amiss.  §  So  will  the  God  of  our  fathers  be 
our  God,  and  he  will  be  a  wall  of  fire  round  about 
us,  and  the  glory  in  the  midst  of  us  in  this  present, 
and  all  succeeding  generations.    Amen. 

*  Hosea  12  ■  4. 

f2Tim.  1:5;  Job  8  :  8. 

|  Exod.  15  :  2,  17  ;  Jer.  2  :  21. 

J  Isa.  26  :  9  ;  Gen.  43  :  23  \  Zech.  2  :  5. 


A   CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 


CHAP.   I. 

OF    THE    HOLY    SCRIPTURES. 
I. 

Although  the  light  of  nature,  and  the  works 
of  creation  and  Providence,  do  so  far  manifest  the 
goodness,  wisdom,  and  power  of  God,  as  to  leave 
men  inexcusable  ;  a  yet  they  are  not  sufficient  to 
give  that  knowledge  of  God,  and  of  his  will,  which 
is  necessary  unto  salvation  :  b  Therefore  it  pleas- 
ed the  Lord  at  sundry  times,  and  in  divers  man- 
ners, to  reveal  himself,  and  to  declare  that  his  will 
unto  his  Church  : c  and  afterwards,  for  the  better 
preserving  and  propagating  of  the  truth,  and  for 
the  more  sure  establishment  and  comfort  of  the 
Church  against  the  corruption  of  the  flesh,  and  the 
malice  of  Satan  and  of  the  world,  to  commit  the 
same  wholly  to  writing  ;  d  which  maketh  the  Holy 
Scripture  to  be  most  necessary  ;  e  those  former 
ways  of  God's  revealing  his  will  unto  his  people, 
now  ceased.  f 

a  Rom.  2:  14,15;  Rom.  1:19,20;  Psal.  19  : 1,2,3;  Rom.  1  : 
32  ;  chap  2:1.  b  1  Cor.  1  :  21 ;  chap.  2  :  13.  14.  c  Heb.  1  : 
1,2.  d  Prov.  22  :  19,  20,  21  ;  Luke  1  :  3,  4  ;  Rom.  15  :  4  ; 
Matt.  4:4,  7,  10;  Isa.  8:  19,20.  e2 Tim.  3:15;  2 Pet.  1:  19. 
fHeb.  1:  1,2. 

2 


14  A    CONFESSION    OF   FAITH. 

II. 

Under  the  name  of  Holy  Scripture,  or  the  word 
of  God  written,  are  now  contained  all  the  books 
of  the  Old  and  New  Testament,  which  are  these  : 

Of  the  Old  Testament. 
Genesis,  Exodus,  Leviticus,  Numbers,  Deuter- 
onomy, Joshua,  Judges,  Ruth,  1  Samuel,  2  Sam- 
uel, 1  Kings,  2  Kings,  1  Chronicles,  2  Chronicles, 
Ezra,  Nehemiah,  Esther,  Job,  Psalms,  Proverbs, 
Ecclesiastes,  The  Song  of  Songs,  Isaiah,  Jere- 
miah, Lamentations,  Ezekiel,  Daniel  Hosea,  Joel, 
Amos,  Obadiah,  Jonah,  Micah,  Nahum,  Habak- 
kuk,  Zephaniah,  Haggai,  Zechariah,  Malachi. 

Of  the  New  Testament. 
Matthew,  Mark,  Luke,  John,  The  Acts  of  the 
Apostles,  Paul's  Epistle  to  the  Romans,  1  Corin- 
thians, 2  Corinthians,  Galatians,  Ephesians,  Phi- 
lippians,  Colossians,  1  Thessalonians,  2  Thessa- 
lonians,  1  to  Timothy,  2  to  Timothy,  to  Titus,  to 
Philemon,  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews,  the  Epistle 
of  James,  the  first  and  second  Epistles  of  Peter, 
the  first,  second,  and  third  Epistles  of  John,  the 
Epistle  of  Jude,  the  Revelation. 

All  which  are  given  by  the  inspiration  of  God, 
to  be  the  rule  of  faith  and  life.  S 

g  Luke  16  :  29,  31  ;  Eph.  2  :  20  ;  Rev.  22  ;  18,  19  ;  2  Tim. 
3:16. 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  15 

III. 

The  books  commonly  called  Apocrypha  not  be- 
ing of  divine  inspiration,  are  no  part  of  the  canon 
of  the  Scripture  ;  and  therefore  are  of  no  author- 
ity in  the  Church  of  God,  nor  to  be  any  otherwise 
approved,  or  made  use  of,  than  other  human 
writings.  h 

h  Luke  24  :  27,  44  ;  Rom.  3:2:2  Pet.  1 :  21. 

IV. 

The  authority  of  the  Holy  Scripture,  for  which 
it  ought  to  be  believed  and  obeyed,  dependeth  not 
upon  the  testimony  of  any  man  or  church,  but 
wholly  upon  God,  (who  is  truth  itself)  the  author 
thereof;  and  therefore  it  is  to  be  received  because 
it  is  the  word  of  God. ! 

i2Pet.  1:19,21;    2Tim.3:16;  I  John  5:9;  lThes.2:13. 


We  may  be  moved  and  induced  by  the  testi- 
mony of  the  Church,  to  a  high  and  reverend  es- 
teem of  the  Holy  Scripture  ; k  and  the  heavenli- 
ness  of  the  matter,  the  efficacy  of  the  doctrine, 
the  majesty  of  the  style,  the  consent  of  all  the 
parts,  the  scope  of  the  whole,  (which  is  to  give 
all  glory  to  God)  the  full  discovery  it  makes  of 
the  only  way  of  man's  salvation,  the  many  other 
incomparable  excellencies,  and  the  entire  per- 
fection thereof,  are  arguments  whereby  it  doth 


16  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

abundantly  evidence  itself  to  be  the  word  of  God  : 
yet  notwithstanding,  our  full  persuasion  and  as- 
surance of  the  infallible  truth  and  divine  authority 
thereof,  is  from  the  inward  work  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  bearing  witness  by  and  with  the  word,  in 
our  hearts. l 

k  1  Tim.  2 :  15  .     11  John  2 :  20,  27 :  John  16 :  13,  14  ;  1  Cor. 
2:  10,11,12;    Isa.  59:21. 

VI. 

The  whole  counsel  of  God,  concerning  all 
things  necessary  for  his  own  glory,  man's  salva- 
tion, faith  and  life,  is  either  expressly  set  down 
in  Scripture,  or  by  good  and  necessary  conse- 
quence may  be  deduced  from  Scripture  ;  unto 
which  nothing  at  any  time  is  to  be  added,  wheth- 
er by  new  revelations  of  the  Spirit,  or  traditions 
of  men.  m  Nevertheless  we  acknowledge  the  in- 
ward illumination  of  the  Spirit  of  God  to  be 
necessary  for  the  saving  understanding  of  such 
things  as  are  revealed  in  the  word  ; n  and  there 
are  some  circumstances  concerning  the  worship 
of  God,  and  government  of  the  Church,  common 
to  human  actions  and  societies,  which  are  to  be 
ordered  by  the  light  of  nature,  and  Christian  pru- 
dence, according  to  the  general  rules  of  the  word, 
which  are  always  to  be  observed.  ° 

m 2  Tim.  3:15,   16,   17;     Gal.  1:8,  9;     2  Thes.  2 : 2,  15. 
n  John  6: 45;    1  Cor.  2:9,  10,   11,   12.  o  1  Cor.  11 .  13,  14, 

and  chap.  14:26,40. 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  17 

VII. 

All  things  in  Scripture  are  not  alike  plain  in 
themselves,  nor  alike  clear  unto  all ;  P  yet  those 
things  which  are  necessary  to  be  known,  believed, 
and  observed,  for  salvation,  are  so  clearly  pro- 
pounded and  opened  in  some  place  of  Scripture 
or  other,  that  not  only  the  learned,  but  the  un- 
learned, in  a  due  sense  of  the  ordinary  means  may 
attain  unto  a  sufficient  understanding  of  them.  1 

p  2  Pet.  3.16.       q  Psal.  11 9 :  105,  130  ;    Heb.  2 : 2. 

VIII. 

The  Old  Testament  in  Hebrew,  (which  wTas 
the  native  language  of  the  people  of  God  of  old) 
and  the  New  Testament  in  Greek,  (which  at  the 
time  of  writing  of  it  was  most  generally  known 
to  the  nations)  being  immediately  inspired  by  God, 
and  by  his  singular  care  and  providence  kept  pure 
in  all  ages,  are  therefore  authentical ; r  so  as  in 
all  controversies  of  religion  the  Church  is  finally 
to  appeal  unto  them.  s  But  because  these  origin- 
al tongues  are  not  known  to  all  the  people  of 
God,  who  have  right  unto  and  interest  in  the 
Scriptures,  and  are  commanded  in  the  fear  of  God 
to  read  and  search  them,  *  therefore  they  are  to 
be  translated  into  the  vulgar  language  of  every 
nation  unto  which  they  come,  u  that  the  word  of 
God  dwelling  plentifully  in  all,  they  may  worship 
him  in  an  acceptable  manner,  w  and  through 
2* 


18  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

patience  and  comfort  of  the  Scriptures  may  have 
hope.  s 

r  Matt.  5 :  18-  s  lsa.  8 :  20  ;  Acts  15  -.15  ;  John  5 1  39,  46. 
tJohn5:39.  u  1  Cor.  14:6,  9,  11,  12,  24,  27,  28.  wCol. 
3 :  16.       x  Rom.  15  :  4. 

IX. 

The  infallible  rule  of  interpretation  of  Scrip- 
ture, is  the  Scripture  itself  ;  and  therefore,  when 
there  is  a  question  about  the  true  and  full  sense 
of  any  Scripture  (which  is  not  manifold,)  but  one 
it  must  be  searched  and  known  by  other  places, 
that  speak  more  clearly,  y 
y  2  Pet.  1 :  20,  21  ;   Acts  15  :  15,  16. 

X. 

The  Supreme  Judge,  by  whom  all  controver- 
sies of  religion  are  to  be  determined,  and  all  de- 
crees of  councils,  opinions  of  ancient  writers, 
doctrines  of  men,  and  private  spirits,  are  to  be 
examined,  and  in  whose  sentence  we  are  to  rest, 
can  be  no  other  but  the  Holy  Scripture  delivered 
by  the  Spirit,  into  which  Scripture  so  delivered, 
our  faith  is  finally  resolved. z 

z  Matt.  22  :  29,  31  ;    Eph.  2 :  20  ;    Acts  28  :  25. 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  19 


CHAP.     II. 

OF    GOD,    AND    OF    THE    HOLY    TRINITY. 
I. 

There  is  but  one  only  a  living  and  true  God  ;b 
who  is  infinite  in  being  and  perfection,  c  a  most 
pure  spirit, d  invisible,  e  without  body,  parts,  f  or 
passions,  S  immutable,  h  immense, '  eternal,  k  in- 
cemprehensible, 1  almighty,  m  most  wise,  n  most 
holy,  °  most  free,  P  most  absolute,  <1  working  all 
things  according  to  the  counsel  of  his  own  im- 
mutable and  most  righteous  will,  r  for  his  own 
glory,  s  most  loving, t  gracious,  merciful,  long- 
suffering,  abundant  in  goodness  and  truth,  forgiv- 
ing iniquity,  transgression,  and  sin  ; ll  the  re  ward- 
er of  them  that  diligently  seek  him  ;  w  and  withal, 
most  just  and  terrible  in  his  judgments,  x  hating  all 
sin,  y  and  who  will  by  no  means  clear  the  guilty. z 

a  Deut.  6 :  4  ;  1  Cor.  8  :  4,  6.  b  1  Thes.  1:9;  Jer.  10  :  10. 
c  Job  1  :  7,  8,  9,  and  26  :  14.  d  John  4  :  24-  el  Tim.  1 :  17. 
t'Deut.  4  :  15,  16  ;  John  4  :  24  ;  Luke  24  i  39.  g  Acts  14  :  11, 
15.  h  James  1  :  17 ;  Mai.  3:6.  i  1  Kings  8  :  27  ;  Jer.  23  : 
23,  24.  i  Rom.  1  :  20  ;  1  Tim.  1  :  17  :  Psal.  90  :  2.  1  Psal. 
145  :  3.  m  Gen.  17:1;  Rev.  4:8.  n  Rom.  16  :  27.  o  Isa. 
6:3.  p  Psal.  115  :  3.  q  Exod.  3  :  14.  r  Eph.  1:11.  sRom. 
11:36.  t  1  John  4:  8,  16.  u  Exod.  34  :  6,  7.  wHeb.  11:6. 
xXeh.  9:32,  33.        yPsal.  6:5,  6.        z  Exod.  34  :  7  ;    Xah.  1 : 


20  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

II. 

God  hath  all  life,  a  glory,  b  goodness,  c  bles- 
sedness,  d  in  and  of  himself ;  and  is  alone  in  and 
unto  himself  all-sufficient,  not  standing  in  need 
of  any  creatures  which  he  hath  made,  e  nor  de- 
riving any  glory  from  them,  f  but  only  manifest- 
ing his  own  glory  in,  by,  unto,  and  upon  them. 
He  is  the  alone  fountain  of  all  being,  of  whom, 
through  whom,  and  to  whom  are  all  things  ;  8 
and  hath  most  sovereign  dominion  over  them, 
to  do  by  them,  for  them,  or  upon  them,  whatso- 
ever himself  pleaseth.  h  In  his  sight  all  things 
are  open  and  manifest ;  "  his  knowledge  is  infi- 
nite, infallible,  and  independent  upon  the  crea- 
ture ;  k  so  as  nothing  is  to  him  contingent  or 
uncertain. 1  He  is  most  holy  in  all  his  counsels, 
in  all  his  works,  and  in  all  his  commands. m 
To  him  is  due  from  angels  and  men,  and  every 
other  creature,  whatsoever  worship,  service,  or 
obedience,  as  creatures,  they  owe  unto  the  Crea- 
tor, and  whatever  he  is  further  pleased  to  require 
of  them.  n 

a  John  5:  26.  b  Acts  7  :  2.  c  Psal.  119  :  68.  d  1  Tim. 
11 :  15  ;  Rom.  9:5.  e  Acts  17  :  24,  25.  f  Job  22  :  2,  3. 
g  Rom.  11:36.  h  Rev.  4:  11;  1  Tim.  6  :  15  ;  Dan.  4  :  25, 
31,  34,  35.  i  Heb.  4  :  13.  k  Rom.  11  :  33,  34  ;  Psal.  147  i  5. 
1  Acts  15:  18;  Ezek.  11:5.  m  Psal.  145  :  17  ;  Rom.  7  :  12. 
n  Rev.  5  :  12,  13,  14. 


A    CONFESSION    OP    FAITH.  21 

III. 

In  the  unity  of  the  Godhead  there  be  three 
persons  of  one  substance,  power,  and  eternity  ; 
God  the  Father,  God  the  Son,  and  God  the  Ho- 
ly Ghost.  °  The  Father  is  of  none,  neither  be- 
gotten, nor  proceeding ;  the  Son  is  eternally 
begotten  of  the  Father  ;  P  the  Holy  Ghost  eter- 
nally proceeding  from  the  Father  and  the  Son.  <l 
Which  doctrine  of  the  Trinity  is  the  foundation 
of  all  our  communion  with  God,  and  comfortable 
dependence  upon  him. 

o  1  John  5:7;  Matt.  3  :  16,  17  ;  chap.  28  :  19  ;  2  Cor.  13 :  14. 
p  John  1  :  14,  18.      q  John  15  :  26  ;  Gal.  4  :  6  ;  2  Cor.  13  :  14. 


CHAP.    III. 

of  god's  eternal  decrees. 

I. 

God  from  all  eternity  did  by  the  most  wise 
and  holy  counsel  of  his  own  will,  freely  and 
unchangeably  ordain  whatsoever  comes  to  pass  ;  a 
yet  so  as  thereby  neither  is  God  the  author  of 
sin, b  nor  is  violence  offered  to  the  will  of  the 
creatures,  nor  is  the  liberty  or  contingency  of 
second  causes  taken  away,  but  rather  establish- 
ed. c 
a  Eph.  1:11;  Rom.  11  :  33  ;    Heb.  6  :  17  \    Rom.  9  :  15,  18. 


22  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

b  James  1  :  13, 14  :  1  John  1:5.       c  Acts  2  :  23  ;  chap.  4  :  27, 
28  i  Matt.  17  :  12  ;  John  10  :  11  ;  Prov.  16  :  33. 

II. 

Although  God  knows  whatsoever  may  or  can 
come  to  pass  upon  all  supposed  conditions  ;  d 
yet  hath  he  not  decreed  any  thing,  because  he 
foresaw  it  as  future,  or  that  which  would  come 
to  pass,  upon  such  conditions.  e 

d  Acts  15  :  18, 15,  and  23  :  11, 12  :    Matt.  11  :  21,  23. 

eRom.  9:11,13, 16,  18. 

III. 

By  the  decrees  of  God,  for  the  manifestation 
of  his  glory,  some  men  and  angels  f  are  predes- 
tinated unto  everlasting  life,  and  others  fore-or- 
dained to  everlasting  death.  S 

f  1  Tim.  5:21;  Matt.  25  :  41  ;  Eph.  1 :  5,  6  5  Prov.  16  :  4. 
gRom.  9:22,  23- 

IV. 

These  angels  and  men,  thus  predestinated  and 
fore-ordained,  are  particularly  and  unchangeably 
designed,  and  their  number  is  so  certain  and 
definite,  that  it  cannot  be  either  increased  or  di- 
minished. h 

h  2  Tim.  2:  19;    John  13:  18. 

V. 

Those  of  mankind  that  are  predestinated  un- 
to life,  God,  before  the  foundation  of  the  world 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  23 

was  laid,  according  to  his  eternal  and  immutable 
purpose,  and  the  secret  counsel  and  good  plea- 
sure of  his  will,  hath  chosen  in  Christ,  unto 
everlasting  glory, ■  out  of  his  mere  free  grace 
and  love,  without  any  foresight  of  faith  or  good 
works,  or  perseverance  in  either  of  them,  or  any 
other  thing  in  the  creature,  as  conditions,  or 
causes  moving  him  thereunto, k  and  all  to  the 
praise  of  his  glorious  grace. 1 

i  Eph.  1  :  4,  9,  11 ;  Rom.  8  :  30  ;  2  Tim.  1  : 9  ;  1  Thes.  5  : 9. 
k  Rom.  9:11,  13,  16  ;    Eph.  1  :  4,  9.        1  Eph.  1  :  6,  12. 

VI. 

As  God  hath  appointed  the  elect  unto  glory, 
so  hath  he  by  the  eternal  and  most  free  purpose 
of  his  will  fore-ordained  all  the  means  there- 
unto. m  Wherefore  they  who  are  elected,  being 
fallen  in  Adam,  are  redeemed  by  Christ, n  are 
effectually  called  unto  faith  in  Christ  by  his  Spirit 
working  in  due  season,  are  justified,  adopted, 
sanctified,  °  and  kept  by  his  power,  through  faith 
unto  salvation.  P  Neither  are  any  other  redeemed 
by  Christ,  or  effectually  called,  justified,  adopted, 
sanctified,  and  saved,  but  the  elect  only,  <1 

m  1  Pet.  1:2;  Eph.  1  :  4,  5,  and  chap.  2 :  10 ;  2  Thes.  2  :  13. 
i»  1  Thes.  5  :  9,  10  ;  Tit.  2:14.  o  Rom.  8 :  30  ;  Eph.  1  :  5  ; 
2  Thes.  2  :  13.         pi  Pet.  1:5.  q  John  7:9;    6:64,65; 

8  :  47,  and  10  :  26  ;    Rom.  8  :  28,  to  the  end  ;    1  John  2  :  19. 


24  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

VII. 

The  rest  of  mankind,  God  was  pleased,  ac- 
cording to  the  unsearchable  counsel  of  his  own 
will,  whereby  he  extendeth  or  withholdeth  mercy 
as  he  pleaseth,  for  the  glory  of  his  sovereign 
power  over  his  creatures,  to  pass  by,  and  to  or- 
dain them  to  dishonour  and  wrath  for  their  sin,  to 
the  praise  of  his  glorious  justice. r 

r  Matt.  11  :  25,  26  ;  Rom.  9  :  17,  18,  21,  22  j  2  Tim.  2  :  19, 
20  ;    Jude  4  ;     1  Pet.  2  :  8. 

VIII. 

The  doctrine  of  this  high  mystery  of  predes- 
tination is  to  be  handled  with  special  prudence 
and  care, s  that  men  attending  the  will  of  God 
revealed  in  his  word,  and  yielding  obedience 
thereunto,  may  from  the  certainty  of  their  effec- 
tual vocation,  be  assured  of  their  eternal  elec- 
tion. l  So  shall  this  doctrine  afford  matter  of 
praise,  reverence,  and  admiration  of  God, u  and 
of  humility,  diligence,  and  abundant  consolation 
to  all  that  sincerely  obey  the  Gospel.  w 

s  Rom.  9  :  20,  11,  33  ;  Deut.  29  :  29.  1 2  Pet.  1  :  10.  u  Eph. 
1:6;  Rom.  11  :  33.  wRom.  11  :  5,  and  6  :  20;  2  Pet.  1 :  10 ; 
Rom.  8  :  33  ;  Luke  10  :  20^ 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  25 

CHAP.  IV. 

OF    CREATION. 
I. 

It  pleased  God  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy- 
Ghost,  a  for  the  manifestation  of  the  glory  of  his 
eternal  power,  wisdom,  and  goodness,  b  in  the  be- 
ginning to  create  and  make  of  nothing  the  world, 
and  all  things  therein,  whether  visible  or  invisible, 
in  the  space  of  six  days  and  all  very  good.c 

a  Heb.  1:2;  John  1 :  2,  3  ;  Gen.  1:2;  Job  26  :  13,  and 
33  :  4.  b  Rom.  1  :  20  ;  Jer.  10  :  12  ;  Psal.  104  :  24,  and  33  : 
5,  6.       c  Gen.  1  chap.  ;    Heb.  11:3;  Col.  1  :  16  ;  Acts  17  :  24- 

II. 

After  God  had  made  all  other  creatures,  he 
created  man,  male  and  female,  d  with  reasona- 
ble and  immortal  souls,  e  endued  with  knowl- 
edge, righteousness  and  true  holiness,  after  his 
own  image,  f  having  the  law  of  God  written  in 
their  hearts,  S  and  power  to  fulfil  it ;  n  and  yet 
under  a  possibility  of  transgressing,  being  left 
to  the  liberty  of  their  own  will,  which  was  sub- 
ject to  change. 1  Besides  this  law  written  in 
their  hearts,  they  received  a  command  not  to  eat 
of  the  tree  of  knowledge  of  good  and  evil ;  which 
whilst  they  kept  they  were  happy  in  their  com- 
3 


26  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

munion  with  God,  k  and  had  dominion   over  the 
creatures. 1 

dGen.l:27.         eGen.  2:7;    Eccl.l2:7;     Luke  23  :  43  : 
Matt.  10  :  28.     f  Gen.  1 :  26  ;  Col.  3  :  10  ;  Eph.  4  :  24.      g  Rom. 

2  :  14,  15.     h  Eccl.  7  :  29.     i  Gen.  3:6;    Eccl.  7  ,  29.    k  Gen. 

3  :  8,  9,  10,  11,  23.      1  Gen.  1  ■  26,  28,  and  2  :  17. 


CHAP.  V. 


OF    PKOVIDENCE. 


Goi),  the  great  Creator  of  all  things,  doth  up- 
hold, a  direct,  dispose,  and  govern  all  creatures, 
actions,  and  things  b  from  the  greatest  even  to 
the  least  c  by  his  most  wise  and  holy  providence,  d 
according  to  his  infallible  fore-knowledge  e  and 
the  free  and  immutable  counsel  of  his  own  will.  f 
to  the  praise  of  the  glory  of  his  wisdom,  power, 
justice,  goodness,  and  mercy.  S 

a  Heb.  1:3.  b  Dan.  4  :  34,  35  ;  Psal.  135  :  6  ;  Acts  17  : 
25,  26,  28,  29  ;  Job  38,  39,  40,  41,  chapters.  c  Matt.  10  i  29, 
30,  31.  d  Psal.  104  :  24 ;  15  :  3,  and  145 :  17.  e  Acts  15 :  18 ; 
Psal.  94  :  8,  9,  10,  11.  f  Eph.  1:11;  Psal.  33  :  10,  11.  glsa. 
63  :  14  ;  Eph.  3  :  10  ;  Rom.  9  :  17  ;  Gen.  45  :  17  :  Psalm 
145:  17. 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  2/ 

II. 

Although  in  relation  to  the  fore-knowledge 
and  decree  of  God  the  first  cause,  all  things 
come  to  pass  immutably  and  infallibly;  h  yet 
by  the  same  providence  he  ordereth  them  to 
fall  out,  according  to  the  nature  of  the  second 
causes,  either  necessarily  freely  or  contingent- 
ly, i 

h  Acts  2  :  23-  i  Jer.  31  :  35  ;  Exod.  21:13;  Gen.  8  :  22 ; 
Deut.  19  :  5  ;    1  Kings  22  :  28,  34  ;    Isa.  10  :  6,  7. 

III. 

God  in   his  ordinary  providence  maketh  use  of 

means,  k  yet  is  free  to   work   without,  1  above,  m 

and  against  them  at  his  pleasure.  n 

k  Acts  27  :  31,  44  ;  Isa.  55  :  11  ;  Hos.  2  :  21,  22.  1  Hos. 
1:7;  Matt.  4:4;  Job  34  ;  10.  m  Rom.  4  :  19,  20,  21- 
n  2  Kings  6:6;    Dan.  3  :  27. 

IV. 

The  almighty  power,  unsearchable  wisdom, 
and  the  infinite  goodness  of  God,  so  far  mani- 
fest themselves  in  his  providence,  in  that  his  de- 
termined counsel  extendeth  itself  even  to  the 
first  fall  and  all  other  sins  of  angels  and  men,  ° 
(and  that  not  by  a  bare  permission,)  P  which  al- 
so he  most  wisely  and  powerfully  boundeth,  <l 
and  otherwise  ordereth  and  governeth  in  a  ma- 
nifold dispensation,  to  his  own  most  holy  ends,  r 
yet  so  as  the  sinfulness  thereof  proceedeth  only 


28  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

from  the  creature,  and  not  from  God,  who  being 
most  holy  and  righteous,  neither  is,  nor  can  be 
the  author  or  approver  of  sin.  s 

o  Rom.  11 :  32,  33,  34  ;    2  Sam.  24  i  1,  with  1  Chron  21  :  1  ; 

1  Kings  2  :  2,  22,  23  \  1  Chron.  10  s  4,  13,  14  j  2  Sam.  6  :  10  ; 
Acts  2  :  23,  and  4  :  27,  28.      p  Acts  14  :  16.        q  Psal.  76  :  10  ; 

2  Kings  19  :  28.  r  Gen.  50  :  20  ;  Isa.  10  :  6,  7,  12.  s  Jam. 
1  :  13,  14,  17  ;    1  John  2  :  16  ;    Psal.  50  :  21. 


The  most  wise,  righteous,  and  gracious  God 
doth  oftentimes  leave  for  a  season  his  own  chil- 
dren to  manifold  temptations,  and  the  corrup- 
tion of  their  own  hearts,  to  chastise  them  for 
their  former  sins,  or  to  discover  unto  them  the 
hidden  strength  of  corruption,  and  deceitfulness 
of  their  hearts,  that  they  may  be  humbled,  t  and 
to  raise  them  to  a  more  close  and  constant  de- 
pendence for  their  support  upon  himself  and  to 
make  them  more  watchful  against  all  future  oc- 
casions of  sin,  and  for  sundry  other  just  and  holy 
ends.  u 

t  2  Chron.  32  :  25,  26,  31  ;  2  Sam.  24  :  1.  u  2  Cor.  12  :  7, 
8,  9  j  Psal.  73,  per  tot.  Psal.  77  : 1,  10,  12  ;  Mark  14  :  66  to 
the  end  ;    John  21 :  15,  16,  17. 

VI. 

As  for  those  wicked  and  ungodly  men,  whom 
God  as  a  righteous  Judge,  for  former  sins,  doth 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  29 

blind  and  harden,  w  from  them  he  not  only  with- 
holdeth  his  grace,  whereby  they  might  have 
been  enlightened  in  their  understandings,  and 
wrought  upon  in  their  hearts,  x  but  sometimes 
also  withdraweth  gifts  which  they  had,  J  and 
exposeth  them  to  such  objects,  as  their  corrup- 
tion makes  occasion  of  sin ; z  and  withal  gives 
them  over  to  their  own  lusts,  the  temptations  of 
the  world,  and  the  power  of  Satan,  a  whereby  it 
comes  to  pass  that  they  harden  themselves  under 
those  means  even  which  God  useth  for  the  soften- 
ing of  them.  b 

w  Rom.  1 :  24,  26,  28  ;  Rom.  11  :  7,  8-  x  Deut.  29  :  4. 
y  Matt.  13  :  12  ;  Matt.  25  :  29.  z  Deut.  2  :  30  ;  2  Kings  8  : 
12,  13.  a  Psal.  8  :  11,  12.  b  Exod.  7  :  3,  and  8  :  15,  33  ; 
2  Cor.  2  :  14,  16  ;  Isa.  8  :  14  ;  1  Pet.  2  :  7,  8;  Isa.  16  :  9,  10, 
with  Acts  28  :  26,  27. 

VII. 

As  the  Providence  of  God  doth  in  general 
reach  to  all  creatures,  so  after  a  most  special 
manner  it  taketh  care  of  his  church,  and  dispo- 
seth  all  things  for  the  good  thereof.  c 

c  1  Tim.  4:10;  Amos  9  :  8,  9  ;  Rom.  8  :  28  ;  Isa.  43  :  3, 
4,  5,  14. 


30  A    CONFESSION    OF   FAITH. 


CHAP.    VI. 

OF  THE  FALL  OF  MAN,  OF  SIN,  AND  OF  THE  PUN- 
ISHMENT THEREOF. 

I. 

God  having  made  a  covenant  of  works  and 
life  thereupon, a  with  our  first  parents,  and  all 
their  posterity  in  them,  b  they  being  seduced  by 
the  subtilty  and  temptation  of  Satan,  did  wilfully 
transgress  the  law  of  their  creation,  and  break 
the  covenant  in  eating  the  forbidden  fruit.0 

a  Rom.  10  i  5.        b  Rom.  5  :  12, 13  ;    1  Cor.  15  :  21,  22. 

cGen.  3:  13:    2Cor.  11  :  3. 

II. 

By  this   sin  they,  and  we   in   them,  fell   from 

original  righteousness  and  communion  with  God, d 

and  so  became   dead  in  sin,  e  and  wholly  defiled 

in  all  the  faculties  and  parts  of  soul  and  body.  f 

d  Gen.  3  :  6,  7,  8  ;  Eccl.  7  :  29  ;  Rom.  3  :  23.  e  Gen.  2  : 
17:  Eph.  2:1.  f  Tit.  1:15;  Gen.  6  :  5  ;  Jer.  17  :  9 ;  Rom. 
3  :  10  to  19. 

III. 

They  being  the  root,  and  by  God's  appoint- 
ment standing  in  the  room  and  stead  of  all  man- 
kind, the  guilt  of  this  sin  was  imputed,  S  and 
corrupted   nature   conveyed  to  all  their  posteri- 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  31 

ty  descending    from    them  by   ordinary  genera- 
tion.  h 

g  Gen.  1  :  27,  28  ;  Gen.  2  :  16,  17  ;  Acts  17  :  26  ;  Rom.  5  : 
12,  15,  16,  17,  18,  19  ;  1  Cor.  15  :  21,  22,  45,  49.  h  Psal.  51  I 
5  ;    Gen.  5:3;    Job  14  :  4,  and  15  :  14. 

IV. 

From  this  original  corruption  whereby  we  are 
utterly  indisposed,  disabled,  and  made  opposite  to 
all  good, i  and  wholly  inclined  to  all  evil, k  do 
proceed  all  actual  transgressions. 1 

i  Rom.  5  :  6,  and  8  :  7,  and  7  :  18  ;  Col.  1:21.  k  Gen.  6  : 
5,  and  8  :  21 :  Rom.  3  :  10,  11,  12.  1  Jam.  1  :  14,  15  ;  Eph. 
2:2,3;    Matt.  15  :  19. 

V. 

This  corruption  of  nature  during  this  life,  doth 
remain  in  those  that  are  regenerated  ;  m  and  al- 
though it  be  through  Christ  pardoned  and  morti- 
fied, yet  both  itself  and  all  the  motions  thereof 
are  truly  and  properly  sin.  n 

m  1  John  1  :  8,  10  ;  Rom.  7  :  14,  17,  18,  23  ;  Jam.  3:2; 
Prov.  20  :  9  ;    Eccl.  7  :  20.      n  Rom.  7  :  5,  7,  8,  25 ;  Gal.  5  :  17. 

VI. 

Even*  sin,  both  original  and  actual,  being  a 
transgression  of  the  righteous  law  of  God,  and 
contrary  thereunto,  °  doth  in  its  own  nature 
bring   guilt    upon  the    sinner,  P  whereby  he  is 


32  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

bound  over  to  the  wrath  of  God,  <1  and  curse 
of  the  law, r  and  so  made  subject  to  death, s 
with  all  miseries  spiritual,  l  temporal,  u  and  eter- 
nal, w 

o  1  John  3:4.  p  Rom.  20  :  15,  and  3  :  9,  19.  q  Eph.  2  :  3. 
r  Gal.  3  :  10.  s  Rom.  1  :  23.  t  Eph.  4  :  18.  u  Rom.  8  :  20  ; 
Lam.  3  :  39.      w  Matt.  25  :  41 ;    2  Thes.  1  :  9. 


CHAP.  VII. 

of  god's  covenant  with  man. 

I. 

The  distance  between  God  and  the  creature 
is  so  great,  that  although  reasonable  creatures 
do  owe  obedience  to  him  as  their  Creator,  yet 
they  could  never  have  attained  the  reward  of  life? 
but  by  some  voluntary  condescension  on  God's 
part,  which  he  hath  been  pleased  to  express  by 
way  of  covenant.  a 

a  Isa.  40  :  13,  14,  15,  16,  17  ;  Job  9  :  32,  33  ;  Psal.  113  :  56, 
and  100  :  2,  3  ;  Job  22  :  2,  3,  and  35  :  7,  8  ;  Luke  17  :  10  ; 
Acts  17  :  24, 25. 

II. 

The  first  covenant  made  with  man,  was  a 
covenant  of  works,  b  wherein  life  was  promised 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  33 

to  Adam,  and  in  him  to  his  posterity,  c  upon  con- 
dition  of  perfect  and  personal  obedience.  d 

b  Gal.  3  :  12.  c  Rom.  10  :  5,  and  5  :  12  to  20.  d  Gen.  2  I 
17;    Gal.  3:10. 

III. 

Man  by  his  fall  having  made  himself  unca- 
pable  of  life  by  that  covenant,  the  Lord  was 
pleased  to  make  a  second, e  commonly  called 
the  covenant  of  grace ;  wherein  he  freely  of- 
fereth  unto  sinners  life  and  salvation  by  Jesus 
Christ,  requiring  of  them  Faith  in  him  that 
they  may  be  saved, f  and  promising  to  give 
unto  all  those  that  are  ordained  unto  life,  his 
Holy  Spirit  to  make  them  willing  and  able  to 
believe.  8 

e  Gal.  3  :  21  ;  Rom.  3  :  20,  21  ;  Gen.  3:5;  Isa.  42  :  6. 
f  Mark  16  :  15,  16  ;  John  3  :  16  ;  Rom.  10  :  6, 10  ;  Gal.  3 : 
11.      g  Ezek.  36  :  26,  27  ;    John  6  :  44,  45. 

IV. 

This  covenant  of  grace  is  frequently  set  forth 
in  Scripture  by  the  name  of  a  testament,  in  refer- 
ence to  the  death  of  Jesus  Christ  the  testator,  and 
to  the  everlasting  inheritance,  with  all  things  be- 
longing  to  it,  therein  bequeathed.  h 
h  Heb.  7 :  22,  and  9  :  15,  16, 17  ;  Luke  22 :  20  ;  1  Cor.  11 :  25. 

V. 

Although  this   covenant  hath  been   differently 


34  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

and  variously  administered  in  respect  of  Ordinan- 
ces and  institutions  in  the  time  of  the  law,  and 
since  the  coming  of  Christ  in  the  flesh, \  yet  for 
the  substance  and  efficacy  of  it,  to  all  its  spiritual 
and  saving  ends,  it  is  one  and  the  same  k  upon 
the  account  of  which  various  dispensations  it  is 
called  the  old  and  new  testament. l 

i  2  Cor.  3  :  6,  7,  8,  9  ;  Heb.  12  :  18  to  24  ;  Col.  2  :  11,  12  ; 
1  Cor.  5:7,  8,  and  10  :  25.  k  Gal.  3:3;  Eph.  4:5;  Jer. 
30  :  33,  34  ;  Rom.  3  :  21,  22,  30,  and  1  :  16.      12  Cor.  3  :  6, 14. 


CHAP.  VIII. 

OF  CHRIST  THE  MEDIATOR. 
I. 

It  pleased  God  in  his  eternal  purpose,  to  choose 
and  ordain  the  Lord  Jesus,  his  only  begotten  Son, 
according  to  a  covenant  made  between  them  both, 
to  be  the  Mediator  between  God  and  man  ;  a  the 
prophet, b  priest, c  and  king,  d  the  head  and  saviour 
of  his  church,  e  the  heir  of  all  things, f  and  judge 
of  the  world :  §"  unto  whom  he  did  from  all  eter- 
nity give  a  people  to  be  his  seed,  h  and  to  be  by 
him  in  time  redeemed,  called,  justified,  sanctified, 
and  glorified. ■ 

alsa.  42:1;    1  Pet.  1  :  19,  20  ;    John  3  :  16  ;    1  Tim.  2  :  5. 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  35 

b  Acts  3  :  22.  c  Heb.  5  :  5,  6.        d  Psal.  2:6;    Luke  1  :  33. 

e  Eph.  5  :  23.  f  Heb.  1:2.       g  Acts  17  :  31.       h  John  17  :  6 ; 

Psal.  32  :  30  ;  Isa.  53  :  10.         i  1  Tim.  2:6;     Isa.  55  :  45  ; 
1  Cor.  1  :  30. 

II. 

The  Son  of  God,  the  second  Person  in  the 
Trinity,  being  very  and  Eternal  God,  of  one 
substance  and  equal  with  the  Father,  did,  when 
the  fulness  of  time  was  come,  take  upon  him 
man's  nature, k  with  all  the  essential  properties 
and  common  infirmities  thereof,  yet  without  sin, 1 
being  conceived  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
in  the  womb  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  of  her  sub- 
stance  ;  m  so  that  two  whole  perfect  and  distinct 
natures,  the  Godhead  and  the  manhood  were  in- 
separably joined  together  in  one  person,  without 
conversion,  composition,  or  confusion  ; n  which 
person  is  very  God  and  very  man,  yet  one  Christ, 
the  only  Mediator  between  God  and  man.  ° 

k  John  1  :  14,  17,  and  5  :  20  ;  Phil.  2:6;  Gal.  4:4.  1  Heb. 
2  :  14,  16,  17,  and  4 :  15.  m  Luke  1  :  27,  31,  35  ;  Gal.  4  :  4. 
n  Luke  1  :  35  ;  Rom.  9:5;  Col.  2:9;  1  Pet.  3  :  18  ;  1  Tim. 
3:  16.       oRom.  1  :  31;    iTim.  2  :  5. 

III. 

The  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  in  his  human  nature, 
thu3  united  to  the  Divine,  in  the  person  of  the 
Son,  was  sanctified  and  anointed  with  the  Holy 
Spirit   above   measure,  P   having  in    him   all   the 


36  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

treasures  of  wisdom  and  knowledge,  q  in  whom 
it  pleased  the  Father  that  all  fulness  should  dwell,1" 
to  the  end  that  being  holy,  harmless,  undefiled, 
and  full  of  grace  and  truth, s  he  might  be  tho- 
roughly furnished  to  execute  the  office  of  a  Me- 
diator and  Surety  ;  *  which  office  he  took  not  unto 
himself,  but  was  thereunto  called  by  his  Father, u 
who  also  put  all  power  and  judgment  into  his 
hand,  and  gave  him  commandment  to  execute 
the  same.  w 

p  Psal.  45  :  1  ;  John  3  :  34.  q  Col.  2:3.  r  Col.  1  i  10. 
s  Heb.  7  :  26 ;  John  1:14.  t  Acts  10  :  38  ;  Heb.  12  :  24,  and 
7  :  22.  u  Heb.  5  :  4,  5.  w  John  5  :  21,  27  ;  Matt.  28  :  18  ; 
Acts  2  :  36. 

IV. 

The  office  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  did  most  wil- 
lingly undertake,  x  which,  that  he  might  discharge 
he  was  made  under  the  law,  y  and  did  perfectly 
fulfil  it,  z  and  underwent  the  punishment  due  to 
us,  which  we  should  have  borne  and  suffered, 
being  made  sin  and  a  curse  for  us,  enduring  most 
grievous  torments  immediately  from  God  in  his 
soul,  a  and  most  painful  sufferings  in  his  body,  b 
was  crucified  and  died, c  was  buried  and  remain- 
ed under  the  power  of  death,  yet  saw  no  cor- 
ruption, d  on  the  third  day  he  arose  from  the 
dead,  e  with  the  same  body  in  which  he  suffered,  f 
with  which  also  he  ascended  into    Heaven,  and 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  37 

there  sitteth  at  the  right  hand  of  his  Father,  % 
making  intercession,  h  and  shall  return  to  judge 
men  and  angels  at  the  end  of  the  world. 1 

x  Psal.  40  :  7,  8 ;  Heb.  10  :  5  to  10  ;  John  10  :  18  ;  Phil.  2  : 8. 
y  Gal.  4:4.  z  Matt.  3  :  15,  and  5  :  17-  a  Matt.  26  :  37,  38, 
and  27  :  46  ;  Luke  22  :  44.  b  Matt.  26  :  27.  c  Phil.  2  :  8. 
d  Acts  2  :  23,  24,  27,  and  13  :  37  ;  Rom.  6:9.  el  Cor.  15  : 
3,  4.  f  John  20  :  25,  27.  g  Mark  16:9.  h  Rom.  8  :  34  ; 
Heb.  9  :  24,  and  7  :  25.  i  Rom.  14  :  9,  10  ;  Acts  1:11,  and 
10:42;    Matt.  13:40,  41,42;    Jude6;    2  Pet.  2  :  4- 

V. 

The  Lord  Jesus,  by  his  perfect  obedience  and 
sacrifice  of  himself,  which  he,  through  the  eter- 
nal  Spirit  once  offered  up  unto  God,  hath  fully 
satisfied  the  justice  of  God, k  and  purchased  not 
only  reconciliation,  but  an  everlasting  inheritance 
in  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  for  all  those  whom  the 
Father  hath  given  unto  him. 1 

k  Rom.  5:19;  Heb.  9  :  14,  16,  and  10  :  14  ;  Eph.  5:2; 
Rom.  3  :  25,  26.  1  Col.  ]  -  19,  20  ;  Dan.  9  :  24,  26  ;  Eph.  1  : 
11,14;    Johnl7:2;    Heb.  9  :  12,  15- 

VI. 

Although  the  work  of  redemption  was  not 
actually  wrought  by  Christ  till  after  his  incar- 
nation, yet  the  virtue,  efficacy,  and  benefits 
thereof  were  communicated  to  the  elect  in  all 
ages  successively,  from  the  beginning  of  the 
world,  in  and  by  those  promises,  types,  and  sac- 
4 


38  A    CONFESSION    OP   FAITH. 

rifices,  wherein  he  was  revealed,  and  signified 
to  be  the  seed  of  the  woman,  which  should  bruise 
the  serpent's  head,  and  the  lamb  slain  from  the 
beginning  of  the  world,  being  yesterday  and  to- 
day the  same,  and  forever.  m 

raGal.  4:4,  5;    Gen.  3  :  15  ;    Rev.  11:8;    Heb.  13  :  8. 

VII. 

Christ  in  the  work  of  mediation  acteth  accor- 
ding to  both  natures,  by  each  nature  doing  that 
which  is  proper  in  itself;  n  yet  by  reason  of  the 
unity  of  the  person,  that  which  is  proper  to  one 
nature,  is  sometimes  in  Scripture  attributed  to  the 
person  denominated  by  the  other  nature.  ° 

n  Heb.  9  :  14, 15  ;  1  Pet.  3  :  18.  o  Acts  20  :  28  ;  John  3  : 
13;    Uohn  3:  16. 

VIII. 

To  all  those  for  whom  Christ  hath  purchased 
redemption,  he  doth  certainly  and  effectually  ap- 
ply and  communicate  the  same,  P  making  inter- 
cession for  them,  q  and  revealing  unto  them,  in 
and  by  the  word,  the  mysteries  of  salvation, r 
effectually  persuading  them  by  his  Spirit  to  be- 
lieve and  obey,  and  governing  their  hearts  by 
his  word  and  Spirit,  s  overcoming  all  their  ene- 
mies by  his  almighty  power  and  wisdom,  in 
such  manner  and  ways  as  are  most  consonant 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  39 

to    his    wonderful    and   unsearchable     dispensa- 
tion. l 

p  John  6  :  37,  39,  and  10  :  15,  16.  q  1  John  2:1;  Rom. 
8  :  34.  r  John  15  :  13,  15  ;  Eph.  1  :  7,  8,  9  ;  John  17  :  6- 
s  John  14  :  16  ;  Heb.  12  :  22;  2  Cor.  4  :  13  ;  Rom.  8  :  9,  14, 
and  15  :  18,  19  ;  John  17  :  17.  t  Psal.  110  :  1  ;  1  Cor.  15  : 
25,26;  PsaL4:2.  3;  Col.  2:  15. 


CHAP.    IX. 


OF    FREE    WILL. 


I. 

God  hath  endued  the  will  of  man  with  that 
natural  liberty  and  power  of  acting  upon  choice, 
that  it  is  neither  force,  nor  by  any  absolute 
necessity  of  nature  determined  to  do  good  or 
evil.  a 

a  Matt.  17  :  12  ;    Jam.  1  :  14  ;    Deut.  30  :  19. 

II. 

Man  in  his  state  of  innocency  had  freedom  and 
power  to  will  and  to  do  that  which  was  good  and 
well-pleasing  to  God  ;  b  but  yet  mutably,  so  that 
he  might  fall  from  it.  c 

b  Gen.  1:26;    Eccl.  7  :  29  ;    Gen.  3  :  6.      c  Gen.  2  :  16, 17. 


40  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

III. 

Man  by  his  fall  into  a  state  of  sin,  hath  whol- 
ly lost  all  ability  of  will  to  any  spiritual  good 
accompanying  salvation, d  so  as  a  natural  man 
being  altogether  averse  from  that  good, e  and 
dead  in  sin, f  is  not  able  by  his  own  strength 
to  convert  himself,  or  to  prepare  himself  there- 
unto. 8 

d  Rom.  5:6;  John  15  :  5.  e  Rom.  3  :  10,  12.  f  Eph.  2  : 
1,  5  ;  Col.  2  :  13.  g  John  6  :  44,  65  ;  Eph.  2  :  2,  3,  4,  5  ; 
ICor.  2:  14;    Tit.  3  :  3,  4,  5. 

IV. 

When  God  converts  a  sinner,  and  translates 
him  into  the  state  of  grace,  he  freeth  him  from 
his  natural  bondage  under  sin,  h  and  by  his  grace 
alone  enables  him  freely  to  will  and  to  do  that 
which  is  spiritually  good  ;  'l  yet  so  as  that  by  reason 
of  his  remaining  corruption,  he  doth  not  perfectly 
nor  only  will  that  which  is  good,  but  doth  also 
will  that  which  is  evil.  k 

h  Col.  1  :  13  ;  Phil.  2  :  13-  i  Rom.  6  :  18,  22.  k  Gal.  5  : 
17  ;    Rom.  7  :  15,  18,  19,  21,  23- 

V. 

The  will  of  man  is  made  perfectly  and  im- 
mutably free  to  good  alone  in  the  state  of  glory 
only.  * 

11  John  3:2;    Jude  24  ;    Eph.  4:13;    Heb.  12  :  23. 


A    CONFESSION    OF   FAITH.  41 

CHAP.    X. 

OF    EFFECTUAL    CALLING. 
I. 

All  those  whom  God  hath  predestinated  unto 
life,  and  those  only  he  is  pleased  in  his  appointed 
and  accepted  time  effectually  to  call a  by  his  word 
and  Spirit,  b  out  of  that  state  of  sin  and  death  in 
which  they  are  by  nature,  to  grace  and  salvation 
by  Jesus  Christ,  c  enlightening  their  minds  spiri- 
tually and  savingly  to  understand  the  things  of 
God,  d  taking  away  their  heart  of  stone,  and 
giving  unto  them  an  heart  of  flesh.  e  Renewing 
their  wills  and  by  his  almighty  power  determin- 
ing them  to  that  which  is  good, f  and  effectually 
drawing  them  to  Jesus  Christ :  S  yet  so  as  they 
come  most  freely,  being  made  willing  by  his 
grace.  h 

a  Rom.  6  :  30,  and  11:7  ;  Eph.  i  :  10, 11.  b  2  Thes.  2  : 
33,  14  ;  2Cor.  3  :  3,  6.  c  Rom.  8:7;  Eph.  2  :  1,  2,  3,  4,  5  ; 
2  Tim.  1  i  9,  10.  d  Acts  26  :  18 ;  Col.  2  :  10,  11  ;  Eph.  1  i  17, 
18.  e  Ezek.  36  :  26.  f  Ezek.  11 :  19 ;  Phil.  2  :  13  ;  Deut.  30  : 
6  ;  Ezek.  36  :  27.  g  Eph.  1  :  19 ;  John  6  :  44,  45.  h  Cant. 
1:4;    Psal.  110:3;    John  6:  37;    Rom.  6  :  16,  17,  18* 

II. 

This  effectual  call  is  of  God's  free  and  spe- 
cial grace  alone,  not  from  any  thing  at  all  fore- 
seen in  man, !  who  is  altogether  passive  therein. 


42  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

until  being  quickened  and  renewed  by  the  Holy 
Spirit, k  he  is  thereby  enabled  to  answer  this 
call,  and  to  embrace  the  grace  offered  and  convey- 
ed in  it. l 

i  2  Tim.  1:9;  Tit.  3  :  4,  5  ;  Eph.  2  :  4,  5,  8,  9  ;  Rom.  9  : 
11.  klCor.2:14;  Rom.  8  :  7  ;  Eph.  2  :  5.  Uohn6:37; 
Ezek.  36  :  27  ;    Rom.  8:9;    John  5  :  25. 

III. 

Elect  infants  dying  in  infancy,  are  regenera- 
ted and  saved  by  Christ,  m  who  worketh  when 
and  where,  and  how  he  pleaseth  ;  n  so  also  are 
all  other  elect  persons  who  are  incapable  of 
being  outwardly  called  by  the  ministry  of  the 
word.  ° 

m  Luke  18  :  15, 16,  and  Acts  2  :  38,  39,  and  John  3  :  5,  and 
1  John  5  :  22,  compared  Rom.  8:9.  n  John  3:8.  o  1  John 
5:  12  ;  Acts  4:  12. 

IV. 

Others  not  elected,  although  they  may  be 
called  by  the  ministry  of  the  word,  P  and  may 
have  some  common  operations  of  the  Spirit,  cl 
yet  not  being  effectually  drawn  by  the  Father, 
they  neither  do  nor  can  come  unto  Christ,  and 
therefore  cannot  be  saved ; r  much  less  can 
men  not  professing  the  Christian  Religion,  be 
saved  in  any  other  way  whatsoever,  be  they  ne- 
ver so  diligent  to  frame  their  lives  according  to 
the  light  of  nature,  and  the  law  of  that  religion 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  43 

they  do  profess ; s  and  to  assert  and  maintain 
that  they  may,  is  very  pernicious,  and  to  be  de- 
tested. l 

p  Matt.  22  :  14-  q  Matt.  7  :  22,  and  13  :  20,  21  ;  Heb.  6  : 
4,  5.  r  John  6  :  64,  65,  66,  and  8  :  24.  s  Acts  4:12;  John 
14  :  6  ;  Eph.  2  :  12  ;  John  4  :  22,  and  17  :  3.  t  2  John  9  :  10, 
11;    ICor.  16:22;    Gal.  1:6,7,8. 


CHAP.    XI. 

OF    JUSTIFICATION. 


I. 

Those  whom  God  effectually  calleth,  he  also 
freely  justifieth,  a  not  by  infusing  righteousness 
into  them,  but  by  pardoning  their  sins,  and  by 
accounting  and  accepting  their  persons  as  right- 
eous, not  for  any  thing  wrought  in  them,  or  done 
by  them,  but  for  Christ's  sake  alone  ;  nor  by  im- 
puting Faith  itself,  the  act  of  believing,  or  any 
other  evangelical  obedience  to  them,  as  their 
righteousness,  but  by  imputing  Christ's  active 
obedience  to  the  whole  law,  and  passive  obedi- 
ence in  his  sufferings  and  death,  for  their  whole 
and  sole  righteousness,  b  they  receiving  and  rest- 
ing on  him  and  his  righteousness  by  faith  ;  which 
faith  they  have  not  of  themselves,  it  is  the  gift 
of  God.  c 


44  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

a  Rom.  8  :  30,  and  3  :  24.  b  Rom.  4  :  4,  5,  6,  7,  8  ;  2  Cor. 
5  :  19,  21  ;  Rom.  3  !  22,  24,  25,  27,  28  ;  Tit.  3  :  5,  7  ;  Eph. 
1:7;  Jer.  23  :  6  ;  1  Cor.  2  :  30,  31  ;  Rom.  5  :  17,  18,  19. 
c  Acts  10  :  44  ;  Gal.  2  :  16  ;  Phil.  3:9;  Acts  13  :  38,  39  : 
Eph.  2  :  7,  8. 

IL 

Faith  thus  receiving  and  resting  on  Christ,  and 
his  righteousness,  is  the  alone  instrument  of  jus- 
tification ;  d  yet  it  is  not  alone  in  the  person  jus- 
tified, but  is  ever  accompanied  with  all  other  sav- 
ing graces,  and  is  no  dead  Faith,  but  worketh  by 
love.  e 

d  John  1  :  12  ;  Rom.  3  :  20,  and  5:1.  e  Jam.  2  :  17,  22, 
26  ;    Gal.  5  :  6. 

III. 

Christ  by  his  obedience  and  death  did  fully 
discharge  the  debt  of  all  those  that  are  justified, 
and  did  by  the  sacrifice  of  himself  in  the  blood 
of  his  Cross,  undergoing  in  their  stead  the  pen- 
alty due  unto  them,  make  a  proper,  real,  and 
full  satisfaction  to  God's  justice  in  their  behalf:  f 
Yet  inasmuch  as  he  was  given  by  the  Father 
for  them,  %  and  his  obedience  and  satisfaction 
accepted  in  their  stead,  h  and  both  freely,  not 
for  any  thing  in  them,  their  justification  is  only  of 
free  grace, i  that  both  the  exact  justice  and  rich 
grace  of  God  might  be  glorified  in  the  justifica- 
tion of  sinners.  k 


v  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  45 

f  Rom.  5;  8,  9,  10,  19;  1  Tim.  2  :  5,  6  ;  Heb.  10  :  10,  14  ; 
Dan.  9  :  24,  26  ;  Isa.  53  :  4,  5,  6,  10,  11,  12.  g  Rom.  8  >  32. 
h  2  Cor.  5  :  21 ;  Matt.  3  :  17 ;  Eph.  5:2.  i  Rom.  3  :  24 ;  Eph. 
1:7.       k  Rom.  3 :  26  ;    Eph.  2  :  7. 

IV. 

God  did  from  all  eternity  agree  to  justify  all  the 
elect, l  and  Christ  did  in  the  fulness  of  time  die 
for  their  sins,  and  rise  again  for  their  justifica- 
tion :  m  nevertheless  they  are  not  justified  person- 
ally, until  the  Holy  Spirit  doth,  in  due  time,  actu- 
ally apply  Christ  unto  them.  n 

1  Gal.  3:8;  1  Pet.  1  :  2, 19,  20  ;  Rom.  8  :  30.  m  Gal.  4  : 
4;  lTim.2:6;  Rom.  4  :  25.  n  Col.  1  :  21,  22 ;  Gal.  2: 16; 
Tit.  3  :  4,  5,  6,  7. 

V. 

God  doth  continue  to  forgive  the  sins  of  those 
that  are  justified  ;  °  and  although  they  can  never 
fall  from  that  state  of  justification,  P  yet  they  may 
by  their  sins  fall  under  God's  fatherly  displeasure  : 
and  in  that  condition  they  have  not  usually  the 
light  of  his  countenance  restored  unto  them, 
until  they  humble  themselves,  confess  their 
sins,  beg  pardon,  and  renew  their  faith  and  re- 
pentance, q 

o  Matt.  6  :  12  ;  1  John  1:7,  9,  and  2  :  1, 2.  p  Luke  12  : 
32;  John  10:  28;  Heb.  10  :  14.  q  Psal.  89  :  31,  32,  33,  and 
51  :  7,  8,  9,  10,  11,  12,  and  32  :  5  ;  Matt.  26  :  75  ;  1  Cor.  11 : 
30,  31,  32  ;    Luke  1  :  20. 


46  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

VI. 

The  justification  of  believers  under  the  Old 
Testament,  was,  in  all  these  respects,  one  and  the 
same  with  the  justification  of  the  believers  under 
the  New  Testament. r 

r  Gal.  3  :  8,  9,  13,  14  ;    Rom.  4  :  22,  23,  24  |    Heb.  13  i  8. 


CHAP.  XII. 


OF    ADOPTION. 


All  those  that  are  justified,  God  vouchsafeth 
in,  and  for  his  only  Son  Jesus  Christ,  to  make 
partakers  of  the  grace  of  adoption,  a  by  which 
they  are  taken  into  the  number,  and  enjoy  the 
liberties  and  privileges  of  the  children  of  God,  b 
have  his  name  put  upon  them,  c  receive  the  spirit 
of  adoption,  d  have  access  to  the  throne  of  grace 
with  boldness,  e  are  enabled  to  cry,  Abba,  Father,  f 
are  pitied,  8"  protected,  h  provided  for, i  and  chas- 
tened by  him  as  by  a  father, k  yet  never  cast  off, 1 
but  sealed  to  the  day  of  redemption, m  and  in- 
herit the  promises  n  as  heirs  of  everlasting  sal- 
vation. ° 

a  Eph.  1:5.  b  Gal.  4  :  4,  5  |  Rom.  8  ;  17  ;  John  1  :  12. 
c  Jer.  14 : 9  ;  2 Cor.  6  :  18 ;  Rev.  3  :  12.      d  Rom.  8 :  15.     e  Eph. 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  47 

3  :  12  ;  Rom.  5  :  2.  f  Gal.  4:6-  g  Psal.  103  :  13.  h  Prov. 
24  :  26.  i  Matt.  6  :  30,  32  ;  1  Pet.  5:7.  k  Heb.  12  :  6. 
1  Lam.  3:  3.  m  Eph.  4  :  30.  n  Heb.  6  :  12.  olPet.  1;3,4; 
Heb.  1  :  14. 


CHAP.  XIII. 


OF    SANCTIFICATTOIN". 


I. 

They  that  are  effectually  called  and  regene- 
rated, being  united  to  Christ,  having  a  new  heart 
and  a  new  spirit  created  in  them,  through  the 
virtue  of  Christ's  death  and  resurrection, a  are 
also  further  sanctified  really  and  personally 
through  the  same  virtue  by  his  word  and  spirit 
dwelling  in  them,  b  the  dominion  of  the  whole 
body  of  sin  is  destroyed,  c  and  the  several  lusts 
thereof  are  more  and  more  weakened  and  mor- 
tified, d  and  they  more  and  more  quickened  and 
strengthened  in  all  saving  graces,  e  to  the  practice 
of  all  true  holiness,  without  which  no  man  shall 
see  the  Lord.  f 

a  1  Cor.  6:11;  Acts  20  :  32  ;  Phil.  3  :  10  ;  Horn.  6.5,  6. 
b  John  17  :  17  ;  Eph.  5  :  26  ;  2  Thes.  2  :  13.  c  Rom.  6  :  6,  14- 
d  Gal.  5  :  24  ;  Rom.  8  :  13.  e  Col.  1:11;  Eph.  3  :  16,  17,  18, 
19.      f  2  Cor.  7:  1;    Heb.  12:  14. 


48  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

II. 

This  sanctification  is  throughout  in  the  whole 
man,  £  yet  imperfect  in  this  life,  there  abides  still 
some  remnants  of  corruption  in  every  part, h 
whence  arises  a  continual  and  irreconcileable  war. 
the  flesh  lusting  against  the  spirit,  and  the  spirit 
against  the  flesh.  ' 

g  1  Thes.  5  :  23.  hi  John  1  :  10  j  Rom.  7  :  18,  23  ;  Phil. 
3:12.       i  Gal.  5:17;    1  Pet.  2  :  11. 

III. 

In  which  war,  although  the  remaining  cor- 
ruption for  a  time  may  much  prevail,  k  yet 
through  the  continual  supply  of  strength  from 
the  sanctifying  spirit  of  Christ,  the  regen- 
erate part  doth  overcome,  *  and  so  the  saints  grow 
in  grace, m  perfecting  holiness  in  the  fear  of 
God.  n 

k  Rom.  7  :  23.  1  Rom.  6  :  14  ;  1  John  5  :  14  ;  Eph.  4  :  15, 
16.       m  2  Pet.  3  :  18.       n  2  Cor.  3:18;    2  Cor.  7  :  1. 


CHAP.  XIV. 

OF    SAVING    FAITH. 


I. 

The  grace  of  Faith  whereby  the  elect  are 
enabled  to  believe  to  the  saving  of  their  souls,  a 
is  the  work  of  the  Spirit  of  Christ  in  their  hearts,  b 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  49 

and  is  ordinarily  wrought  by  the  ministry  of  the 
word  ;  c  by  which  also,  and  by  the  administra- 
tion of  the  seals,  prayer,  and  other  means,  it  is 
increased  and  strengthened.  d 

a  Heb.  10  :  39.  b  2  Cor.  4  :  13  ;  Eph.  1  •.  17,  18,  19,  and 
2:8.  c  Rom.  10  :  14,  17  ;  Acts  20  :  32  ;  Rom.  4:11;  Luke 
17:5;    Rom.  1  :  16,  17.       d  1  Pet.  2:2. 

II. 

By  this  Faith,  a  Christian  belie veth  to  be  true 
whatsoever  is  revealed  in  the  word,  for  the  au- 
thority of  God  himself  speaketh  therein, e  and 
acteth  differently  upon  that  which  each  particu- 
lar passage  thereof  containeth,  yielding  obedi- 
ence to  the  commands,  f  trembling  at  the  threat- 
enings,  E  and  embracing  the  promises  of  God  for 
this  life,  and  that  which  is  to  come.  h  But  the 
principal  acts  of  saving  faith  are,  accepting,  re- 
ceiving, and  resting  upon  Christ  alone,  for  justi- 
fication, sanctification,  and  eternal  life,  by  virtue 
of  the  covenant  of  grace.  l 

e  John  4  :  42  ;  1  Thes.  2  :  13  ;  1  John  5  :  10  ;  Acts  24  :  14. 
f  Rom.  16:26.  g  Isa.  66  :  2.  h  Heb.  11 :  13  ;  1  Tim.  4  :  8. 
i  John  1  :  12  ;    Acts  16  :  31  ;    Gal.  2  :  20  ;    Acts  15  :  11. 

III. 

This  Faith,    although  it  be  different  in  degrees, 
and  may  be  weak  or  strong, k  yet  it  is  in  the  least 
degree  of  it  different  in  the  kind   or  nature  of  it, 
5 


50  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

as  all  other  saving  grace,  from  the  faith  and 
common  grace  of  temporary  believers ; l  and 
therefore  though  it  may  be  many  times  assailed 
and  weakened,  yet  it  gets  the  victory, m  growing 
up  in  many  to  the  attainment  of  a  full  assurance 
through  Christ n  who  is  both  the  author  and  fin- 
isher of  our  faith.  ° 

k  Heb.  5  :  13,  14  ;  Rom.  4  :  19,  20  ;  Matt.  6  :  30,  and  8  :  10- 
1  Job  8 :  13  ;  1  John  3:9-  m  Luke 22  ;  31, 32  ;  Eph.  6  :  16  : 
1  John  5  :  4,  5.  n  Heb.  6  :  11,  12,  and  10  :  22  :  Col.  2  :  2' 
o  Heb.  12  :  2. 


CHAP.  XV. 

OF  REPENTANCE  UNTO  LIFE  AND  SALVATION. 
I. 

Such  of  the  elect  as  are  converted  at  riper 
vears,  having  sometime  lived  in  the  state  of 
nature,  and  therein  served  divers  lusts  and  pleas- 
ures, a  God  in  their  effectual  calling  giveth  them 
repentance  unto  life.  b 

aEph.  2:1,2,  3;  Tit.  3  :  3,  4,  5  ;  1  Pet.  4  :  3.  b  Rom. 
3:30;    2  Tim.  1:9;    Acts  11  :  18- 

II. 

Whereas  there  is  none  that  doth  good  and 
sinneth  not, c  and  the   best  of  men  may  through 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  51 

the  power  and  deceitfulness  of  their  corruptions 
dwelling  in  them,  d  with  the  pre  valency  of  temp- 
tation, e  fall  into  great  sins  and  provocations ;  * 
God  hath  in  the  covenant  of  grace  mercifully  pro- 
vided that  believers  so  sinning  and  falling,  be  re- 
newed through  repentance  unto  salvation.  S 

c  1  Kings  8  :  46  ;  Eccl.  7  :  20  ;  Jam.  3  :  2.  d  Psal.  65  :  3, 
and  40  :  12  ;  Rom.  7 :  21,  23  ;  Jer.  17  :  9  ;  Heb.  3:13.  e  Matt. 
6  :  13 ;  Luke  22  :  31.  f  2  Sam.  11  :  27  5  Luke  22  :  57,  58,  60. 
g  Luke  22  :  32,  61,  62  ;    1  John  1  :  9. 

III. 

This  saving  repentance  is  an  evangelical 
grace, h  whereby  a  person  being  by  the  Holy 
Ghost  made  sensible  of  the  manifold  evils  of  his 
sin, i  doth  by  faith  in  Christ  humble  himself  for 
it,  with  godly  sorrow,  detestation  of  it,  and  self- 
abhorrency, k  praying  for  pardon  and  strength  of 
grace,  *  with  a  purpose  and  endeavor  by  supplies 
of  the  Spirit,  to  walk  before  God  unto  all  well- 
pleasing  in  all  things.  m 

hZech.  12:10;  Acts  11 :  18.  i  John  16  :  7,  8,  9  ;  Eiek. 
18  :  30,  31,  and  36  :  31  ;  Psal.  51  :  4  ;  1  John  3:4.  k  Zech. 
12:10;  Jer.  31  :  18,  19  ;  Joel  2:  12,  13;  Isa.  30  :  22 ;  Amos 
5:15;  Psal.  119  :  128  ;  Ezek.  6  :  9  ;  2  Cor.  7  :  11.  1  Psal. 
51,  per  tot.  m  Psal.  119  :  6,  9.  106  ;  2  Kings  23  :  25  ;  Col. 
1  •  10. 


52  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

IV. 

As  repentance  is  to  be  continued  through  the 
whole  course  of  our  lives,  n  upon  the  account  of 
the  body  of  death,  and  the  motions  thereof;  °  so 
it  is  every  man's  duty  to  repent  of  his  particular 
known  sins  particularly.  P 

11  Matt.  6  :  11,  12  ;  Psal.  51  :  17.  o  Rom.  7  :  14,  15, 17,  IS, 
19,  20,  21,  23,  24  ;  Gal.  5  :  17.  p  Psal.  19  :  13,  and  18  :  23, 
and  51 :  4  ;    Luke  19  :  8  ;    1  Tim.  1  •  13,  15. 

V. 

Such  is  the  provision  which  God  hath  made 
through  Christ  in  the  covenant  of  grace,  for  the 
preservation  of  believers  unto  salvation,  <1  that 
although  there  is  no  sin  so  small,  but  it  deserves 
damnation ;  r  yet  there  is  no  sin  so  great  that  it 
shall  bring  damnation  on  them  who  truly  repent ; s 
which  makes  the  constant  preaching  of  repent- 
ance necessary. * 

q  1  Pet.  1:5.  r  Rom.  6  :  23,  and  5  :  12  ;  Matt.  12  :  36. 
s  Isa.  55 :  7  ;  Rom.  8:1;  Isa.  1 :  16, 18.  t  Mark  1 :  15  ;  Acts 
20 :  21. 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  53 


CHAP.  XVI. 

OF    GOOD    WORKS. 
I. 

Good  works  are  only  such  as  God  hath  com- 
manded in  his  holy  word,  a  and  not  such  as 
without  the  warrant  thereof  are  devised  by  men 
out  of  blind  zeal,  or  upon  any  pretence  of  good 
intentions.  b 

a  Mic.  6:8;  Rom.  12  :  2  ;  Heb.  13  :  21.  b  Matt.  15:9: 
I*a.  29  :  13  ;  Rom.  10  :  2  ;  Job  16  :  2  ;  1  Sam.  15  i  21,  22,  23 : 
1  Pet.  1  :  8. 

II. 

These  good  works  done  in  obedience  to  God's 
commandments,  are  the  fruits  and  evidences  of 
a  true  and  lively  faith, c  and  by  them  believers 
manifest  their  thankfulness, d  strengthen  their 
assurance, e  edify  their  brethren  f  adorn  the  pro- 
fession of  the  Gospel,  £  stop  the  mouths  of  the 
adversaries, h  and  glorify  God, i  whose  work- 
manship they  are  created  in  Christ  Jesus  there- 
unto, k  that  having  their  fruit  unto  holiness  they 
may  have  the  end  eternal  life. l 

c  Jam.  2  :  18,  22.      d  Psal.  116  :  12,  13;  1  Pet.  2:  9.     e  Uohn 
2  :  3,  5  ;    2  Pet.  1  :  5,  6,  7;  2  :  9,  10.       f  2  Cor.  9  :  2;    Matt.  5  : 
16.       gTit.  2:5,  9,  10, 11,  12;    1  Tim.  6  :  1.        h  1  Pet.  2  :  15, 
5* 


54  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

i  1  Pet.  2:12:  Phil.  1:11;  John  15  :  8.      k  Eph.  2 :  10.    1  Rom. 
6:22. 

III. 

Their  ability  to  do  good  works  is  not  all  of 
themselves,  but  wholly  from  the  Spirit  of  Christ : 
m  And  that  they  may  be  enabled  thereunto,  be- 
sides the  graces  they  have  already  received, 
there  is  required  an  actual  influence  of  the  same 
Holy  Spirit  to  work  in  them  to  will  and  to  do  of 
his  good  pleasure, ;  n  yet  are  they  not  hereupon 
to  grow  negligent,  as  if  they  were  not  bound  to 
perform  any  duty,  unless  upon  a  special  motion 
of  the  Spirit,  but  they  ought  to  be  diligent  in 
stirring  up  the  grace  of  God  that  is  in  them.  ° 

m  John  15:4,  6  ;  Ezek.  36  :  26,  27.  n  Phil.  2:13,  and 
4:13:  2  Cor.  3:5.  o  Phil.  2  :  12  ;  Heb.  6:11,12;  2  Pet. 
1  :  3,  5,  10,  11  ;  Isa.  64  :  7 ;  2  Tim.  1:6;  Acts  26  :  6,  7  ; 
Jude  20,  21. 

IV. 

They  who  in  their  obedience  attain  to  the 
greatest  height  which  is  possible  in  this  life, 
are  so  far  from  being  able  to  supererogate,  and 
to  do  more  than  God  requires,  as  that  they  fall 
short  of  much,  which  in  duty  they  are  bound 
to  do.  P 

p  Luke  17  :  10  ;    Neh.  13  :  22  ;    Job  9  :  2,  3  ;    Gal.  5  :  17. 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  55 


We  cannot  by  our  best  works  merit  pardon  of 
sin,  or  eternal  life  at  the  hand  of  God,  by  reason 
of  the  great  disproportion  that  is  between  them, 
and  the  glory  to  come  ;  and  the  infinite  distance 
that  is  between  us  and  God,  whom  by  them  we 
can  neither  profit  nor  satisfy  for  the  debt  of 
our  former  sins ;  <1  but  when  we  have  done  all 
we  can,  we  have  done  but  our  duty,  and  are 
unprofitable  servants : r  And  because  as  they 
are  good,  they  preceed  from  his  Spirit, s  and  as 
they  are  wrought  by  us,  they  are  defiled  and 
mixed  with  so  much  weakness  and  imperfection, 
that  they  cannot  endure  the  severity  of  God's 
judgments.  t 

qRom.3  :20,and4:2,4,6;  Eph.2:8,9;  Tit.  3  : 5,  6,  7 ; 
Rom.  8:18;  Psal.  16  :  2  ;  Job  22  :  23,  and  35  :  7,  8.  r  Luke 
17  :  10.  s  Gal.  5  :  22,  23.  t  Isa.  64  :  6  ;  Gal.  5  :  17  ;  Rom. 
7  :  15,  18  ;    Psal.  143  :  2,  and  130  i  3. 

VI. 

Yet  notwithstanding  the  persons  of  believers 
being  accepted  through  Christ,  their  good  works 
also  are  accepted  in  him,  u  not  as  though  they 
were  in  this  life  wholly  unblameable  and  un- 
reproveable  in  God's  sight,  w  but  that  he  look- 
ing upon  them  in  his  Son,  is  pleased  to  accept 
and  reward  that  which  is  sincere,  although   ac- 


56  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

companied  with  many  weaknesses  and   imperfec- 
tions. x 

u  Eph.  1  :  6  ;  1  Pet.  2:5;  Exod.  28  :  38  ;  Gen.  4:4;  Heb. 
11:4.       w  Job  9:  20;    Psal.   142  :  2  ;    Phil.  3  :  12.       x  Heb. 

13  :  20, 21  ;    2  Cor.  8  :  12  ;    Heb.  6:10;  Matt.  25  :  21,  28. 

VII. 

Works  done  by  unregenerate  men,  although 
for  the  matter  of  them  they  may  be  things  which 
God  commands,  and  of  good  use  both  to  them- 
selves and  to  others  :  y  yet  because  they  proceed 
not  from  an  heart  purified  by  faith,  z  nor  are  done 
in  a  right  manner,  according  to  the  word,  a  nor 
to  a  right  end,  the  glory  of  God  ;  b  they  are 
therefore  sinful,  and  cannot  please  God,  nor  make 
a  man  meet  to  receive  grace  from  God ; c  yet 
their  neglect  of  them  is  more  sinful  and  displeas- 
ing to  God.  d 

y  2  Kings  10  :  30,  31  ;  1  Kings  21  :  27,  29  ;  Phil.  1  s  15,  16, 
18.  z  Gen.  4:5;  Heb.  11  :  4,  6.  a  1  Cor.  13:3;  Isa. 
1  :  12.  b  Matt.  6:2,  5,  16.  c  Hag.  2  :  14  ;  Tit.  1  :  15  ; 
Amos  5  :  21,  22 ;  Hos.  1:4;  Rom.  9  :  16  ;  Tit.  3:5.       d  Psal. 

14  :  4,  and  36  :  3  ;    Job  21  :  14, 15  ;    Matt.  25  :  41,  42,  43,  45  ; 
Matt.  23  :  23. 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  Dl 


CHAP.    XVII. 

OF  THE  PERSEVERANCE  OF  THE  SAINTS. 
I. 

They  whom  God  hath  accepted  in  his  beloved, 
effectually  called  and  sanctified  by  his  Spirit,  can 
neither  totally  nor  finally  fall  away  from  a  state 
of  grace,  but  shall  certainly  persevere  therein  to 
the  end,  and  be  eternally  saved.  a 

a  Phil.  1  :  6  ;  2  Pet.  1  :  10  ;  John  10  :  28,  29  ;  1  John  3:9; 
1  Pet.  1  :  5,  9. 

II. 

This  perseverance  of  the  saints  depends  not 
upon  their  own  free  will,  but  upon  the  immuta- 
bility of  the  decree  of  election,  from  the  free  and 
unchangeable  love  of  God  the  Father  b  upon  the 
efficacy  of  the  merit  and  intercession  of  Jesus 
Christ,  c  and  union  with  him, d  the  oath  of  God,  e 
the  abiding  of  his  Spirit,  and  the  seed  of  God 
within  them,  f  and  the  nature  of  the  covenant  of 
grace,  8  from  all  which  ariseth  also  the  certainty 
and  infallibility  thereof.  h 

b  2  Tim.  2  :  18,  19  j  Jer.  31  :  33-  c  Heb.  10  :  10,  14,  and 
13  :  20,  21,  and  9  :  12,  13,  14,  15  ;  Rom.  8  :  33,  to  end  ;  John 
17  :  11,   24  ;     Luke  22  :  32  ;    Heb.  7  :  25.        d  John  17  :  21. 


58  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

e  Hebrews  6  :  17,  18  ;    Psal.  89  :  35,  36.       f  John  14  :  16,  17  ; 

1  John  2  :  27,   and  3:9.       g  Jer.   32  :  40.        h  John  10  :  28  ; 

2  Thes.  3  :  3  ;    1  John  2  :  19. 

III. 

And  though  they  may  through  the  temptation 
of  Satan,  and  of  the  world,  the  prevalency  of 
corruption  remaining  in  them,  and  the  neglect 
of  the  means  of  their  preservation,  fall  into  griev- 
ous sins,  i  and  for  a  time  continue  therein,  k 
whereby  they  incur  God's  displeasure, 1  and  grieve 
his  Holy  Spirit,  m  come  to  have  their  graces  and 
comforts  impaired,  n  have  their  hearts  hardened,  ° 
and  their  consciences  wounded,  P  hurt  and  scan- 
dalize others,  <1  and  bring  temporal  judgments 
upon  themselves, r  yet  they  are  and  shall  be 
kept  by  the  power  of  God  through  faith,  unto 
salvation. s 

i  Matt.  26  :  70, 72,  74.  k  Psal.  51,  title,  and  verse  14-  1  Isa. 
64  :  5,  7,  9  ;  2  Sam.  11  ■  27.  m  Eph.  4  :  30.  n  Psal.  51 :  8, 
10,  12  ;  Rev.  2:4;  Cant  5  :  2,  3,  4,  6.  o  Isa.  63  :  17  ;  Mark 
6  :  52,  and  16  :  14-  p  Psal.  32  :  3,  4,  and  51:8.  q  2  Sam. 
12:J  14.  r  Psal.  89  :  31,  32  ;  1  Cor.  11  :  30,  31,  32.  s  1  Pet.  1 : 
5:    1  Thes.  5:  23. 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  59 


CHAP.  XVIII. 

OF  THE  ASSURANCE  OF  GRACE  AND  SALVATION. 
I. 

Although  temporary  believers,  and  other 
unregenerate  men  may  vainly  deceive  themselves 
with  false  hopes  and  carnal  presumptions  of 
being  in  the  favor  of  God,  and  state  of  salva- 
tion, a  which  hope  of  theirs  shall  perish  ;  b  yet 
such  as  truly  believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus,  and 
love  him  in  sincerity,  endeavoring  to  walk  in 
all  good  conscience  before  him  may  in  this  life 
be  certainly  assured  that  they  are  in  the  state  of 
grace,  c  and  may  rejoice  in  the  hope  of  the  glory 
of  God,  which  hope  shall  never  make  them  asha- 
med. d 

a  Job  8  :  13,  14:  Mic  3  :  11  :  Deut.  29  :  19  ;  John  8:  41- 
b  Matt.  7  :  22,  23.  c  1  John  2  :  3,  and  3  :  14,  18,  19,  21,  21, 
and  5  :  13.       d  Rom.  5:2,5. 

II. 

This  certainty  is  not  a  bare  conjectural  and 
probable  persuasion,  grounded  upon  a  fallible 
hope ;  e  but  an  infallible  assurance  of  faith, 
founded  on  the  blood  and  righteousness  of  Christ 
revealed  in  the  Gospel, f  and  also  upon  the  in- 
ward   evidences    of  those    graces,    unto    which 


60  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

promises    are    made,  S  and    on    the    immediate 

witness   of  the   Spirit,  testifying    our  adoption, h 

and  as  the  fruit  thereof,  leaving  the   heart  more 

humble  and  holy.  1 

eHeb.6:  11,19.  f  Heb.  10  :  19,  20  ;  Rom.  3: 22.  g2Pet. 
1:4,  5,  10,  11  ;  1  John  2  :  3,  and  3  :  14  ;  2  Cor.  1  ■  12. 
h  Rom.  8  :  15,  16.       i  Psal.  51  :  12,  17 ;    2  Cor.  7  ;  1. 

III. 

This  infallible  assurance  doth  not  so  belong  to 
the  essence  of  faith,  but  that  a  true  believer  may 
wait  long  and  conflict  with  many  difficulties  be- 
fore he  be  partaker  of  it ;  k  yet  being  enabled  by 
the  Spirit  to  know  the  things  which  are  freely 
given  him  of  God,  he  may  without  extraordinary 
revelation,  in  the  right  use  of  ordinary  means, 
attain  thereunto. l  And  therefore  it  is  the  duty 
of  every  one,  to  give  all  diligence  to  make  their 
calling  and  election  sure, m  that  thereby  his  heart 
may  be  enlarged  in  peace  and  joy  in  the  Holy 
Ghost,  in  love  and  thankfulness  to  God,  and  in 
strength  and  cheerfulness  in  the  duties  of  obedi- 
ence, the  proper  fruits  of  this  assurance  ;  n  so  far 
is  it  from  inclining  men  to  looseness.  ° 

k  1  John  5:13:  Isa.  50  :  10  ;  Matt.  9  :  24  ;  Psal.  88,  per 
tot.  and  77  :  1  to  12.  1 1  Cor.  2  :  1,  2  ;  1  John  4  :  13  ;  Heb. 
6  :  11,  12  ;  Eph.  3  i  17,  18,  19.  m  2  Pet.  2  :  10.  n  Rom.  5  i 
1,  2,  5,  and  14  :  7,  and  15  :  3  ;  Eph.  1  :  3,  4  ;  Psal.  4  :  6,  7, 
and  119:  32.      o  1  John  3  :  2,  3  ;  Psal  1 : 3,  4  ;    Uohn2:l,2: 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  61 

Rom.  6:12;    Tit.  2  :  11,  12,  14  ;    2  Cor.  7  :  1 ;    Rom.  8:1, 12; 
1  John  1 :  6,  7. 

IV. 

True  believers  may  have  the  assurance  of  their 
salvation  divers  ways  shaken,  diminished,  and 
intermitted;  as  by  negligence  in  preserving  of 
it,  by  falling  into  some  special  sin,  which  woun- 
deth  the  conscience  and  grieveth  the  Spirit  by 
some  sudden  or  vehement  temptation,  by  God's 
withdrawing  the  light  of  his  countenance,  suffer- 
ing even  such  as  fear  him  to  walk  in  darkness 
and  to  have  no  light ;  P  yet  are  they  neither  utter- 
ly  destitute  of  that  seed  of  God  and  life  of  faith, 
that  love  of  Christ  and  the  brethren,  that  sincerity 
of  the  heart  and  conscience  of  duty,  out  of  which, 
by  the  operation  of  the  Spirit,  this  assurance  may 
in  due  time  be  revived,  <1  and  by  the  which,  in 
the  mean  time,  they  are  supported  from  utter  des- 
pair. r 

p  Cant.  5  :  2,  3,  6  ;  Psal.  51  :  8,  12,  14  ;  Eph.  4  :  30,  31 ; 
Psal.  77 :  1  to  10  ;  Matt.  26  :  69,  70,  71,  72 ;  Psal.  31 :  22,  and 
88,  per  tot.  j  Isa.  51 :  10.  q  1  John  3:9;  Luke  22  j  32  ; 
Job  13: 15;  Psal.  73:15,  and  5  1:8,  12;  Isa.  50: 10.  rMic.7: 
8,  9  ;  Jer.  32  :  40  ;  Isa.  54  :  7,  8,  9,  10  ;  Psal.  22  :  1,  and  88, 
per  tot. 


62  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH, 

CHAP.  XIX. 

OF    THE    LAW    OF    GOD. 
I. 

God  gave  to  Adam  a  law  of  universal  obedi- 
ence written  in  his  heart,  and  a  particular  pre- 
cept of  not  eating  the  fruit  of  the  tree  of  know- 
ledge of  good  and  evil,  as  a  covenant  of  works  ; 
by  which  he  bound  him  and  all  his  posterity  to 
personal,  entire,  exact,  and  perpetual  obedience ; 
promised  life  upon  the  fulfilling,  and  threatened 
death  upon  the  breach  of  it,  and  endued  him  with 
power  and  ability  to  keep  it.  a 

a  Gen.  1  :  26,  27,  and  2  :  17  ;  Rom.  2  i  14,  15,  and  10  :  5, 
and  5  :  12,  19  ;    Gal.  3  :  10,  12  ;    Eccl.  7  :  29  ;    Job  28  i  28- 

II. 

This  law,  so  written  in  the  heart,  continued  to 
be  a  perfect  rule  of  righteousness  after  the  fall  of 
man,  and  was  delivered  by  God  on  Mount  Sinai 
in  ten  commandments,  and  written  in  two  tables  ;  b 
the  four  first  commandments,  containing  our  duty 
towards  God,  and  the  other  six  our  duty  to  man.  c 

b  Jam.  1  :  25,  and  2  :  8,  10,  11,  12  ;  Rom.  13  :  8,  9  ;  Deut. 
5  :  3,  and  10  :  4  ;    Exod.  34  :  1.      c  Matt.  22  :  37,  38,  39,  40. 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH,  63 

III. 

Besides  this  law,  commonly  called  moral,  God 
was  pleased  to  give  the  people  of  Israel,  as  a 
church  under  age,  ceremonial  laws,  containing 
several  typical  ordinances,  partly  of  worshipping, 
prefiguring  Christ,  his  graces,  actions,  sufferings, 
and  benefits, d  and  partly  holding  forth  divers 
instructions  of  moral  duties.  e  All  which  cere- 
monial laws,  being  appointed  only  to  the  time  of 
reformation,  are  by  Jesus  Christ,  the  true  Messi- 
ah and  only  Law-giver,  who  was  furnished  with 
power  from  the  Father  for  that  end,  abrogated 
and  taken  away.  f 

dHeb.  9:  and  10:  1.  Gal.4:  1,2,3;  Col.2:17.  e  1  Cor. 
5  :  T  ;  2  Cor.  6  :  17  ;  Jude  23.  f  Heb.  9  :  10,  11  ;  Jam.  4  : 
12  ;  Heb.  7  :  12  ;  Col.  2  :  14,  16,  17 ;  Dan.  9  :  27  ;  Eph.  2  : 
15,  16. 

IV. 

To  them  also  he  gave  sundry  judicial  laws, 
which  expired  together  with  the  state  of  that 
people,  not  obliging  any  now  by  virtue  of  that  in- 
stitution, their  general  equity  only  being  still  of 
moral  use.  £ 

o  Exod.  21,  and  22  :  1  to  29  ;  Gen.  49  ;  10,  with  1  Pet.  2  : 
13,  14  ;    Matt.  5  :  17,  with  38,  39  ;    1  Cor.  9  :  8,  9,  10. 

V. 

The  moral  law  doth  forever  bind  all,  as  well 
justified   persons   as    others,    to    the     obedience 


1 


64  A    CONFESSION    OF   FAITH. 

thereof;  h  and  that  not  only  in  regard  of  the  mat- 
ter  contained  in  it,  but  also  in  respect  of  the  au- 
thority of  God  the  Creator,  who  gave  it.  ■  Nei- 
ther doth  Christ  in  the  Gospel  any  way  dissolve, 
but  much  strengthen,  this  obligation.  k 

h  Rom.  13  :  8,  9,  10  ;  Eph.  6  :  6,  1,  2  j  1  John  2  :  3,  4,  7,  8. 
i  Jam.  2  :  10,  11.      k  Matt.  5  :  17,  18,  19  ;  Jam.  2  :  8. 

VI. 

Although  true  believers  be  not  under  the  law  as 
a  covenant  of  works,  to  be  thereby  justified  or 
condemned ; l  yet  it  is  of  great  use  to  them,  as 
well  as  to  others  ;  in  that,  as  a  rule  of  life,  in- 
forming them  of  the  will  of  God  and  their  duty, 
and  directs  and  binds  them  to  walk  accordingly ;  m 
discovering  also  the  sinful  pollutions  of  their  na- 
ture, hearts,  and  lives  ;  n  so  as,  examining  them- 
selves thereby,  they  may  come  to  further  con- 
viction of,  humiliation  for,  and  hatred  against 
sin,  °  together  with  a  clearer  sight  of  the  need 
they  have  of  Christ,  and  the  perfection  of  his 
obedience.  P  It  is  likewise  of  use  to  the  regene- 
rate, to  restrain  their  corruptions,  in  that  it  for- 
bids sin,  q  and  the  threatenings  of  it  serve  to  shew 
what  even  their  sins  deserve,  and  what  afflictions 
in  this  life  they  may  expect  from  them,  although 
freed  from  the  curse  thereof,  threatened  in  the 
law. r  The  promises  of  it,  in  like  manner,  shew 
them  God's  approbation  of  obedience,  and  what 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  05 

blessings  they  may  expect  upon  the  performance 
thereof, s  although  not  as  due  to  them  by  the  law. 
as  a  covenant  of  works, t  so  as  a  man's  doing 
good,  and  refraining  from  evil,  because  the  law 
encourageth  to  the  one,  and  deterreth  from  the 
other,  is  no  evidence  of  his  being  under  the  law, 
and  not  under  grace.  u 

1  Rom.  6  :  14  ;  Gal.  2  i  16,  and  3  :  13,  and  4 :  4,  5  ;  Acta 
13  :  39  ;  Rom.  8:1.  m  Rom.  7  :  12,  22,  25  ;  Psal.  119  :  4, 
5,  6  ;  1  Cor.  7  :  19;  Gal.  5  :  14,  16,  18,  19,  20,  21,  22,  23- 
n  Rom.  7  :  7,  and  3  :  20.  o  Jam.  1  :  23,  24,  25  ;  Rom.  7  :  9. 
14,  24.  p  Gal.  3  :  24  ;  Rom.  7  :  24,  25,  and  8  :  3,  4.  q  Jam. 
2:11:  Psal.  119  :  101,  104,  128.  r  Ezra  9  :  13,  14  ;  Psal. 
89  :  30  to  35.  s  Lev.  26  :  3  to  14,  with  2  Cor.  6  :  16  ;  Eph.  6  : 
2,3;  Psal.  37:11:  Matt.  5  :  5  ;  Psal.  19:11.  t  Gal.  2:16: 
Luke  17:10.  u  Rom.  6.12,  14;  1  Pet.  3  : 8,  9,  10,  11,  12. 
with  Psal.  34  I  12  to  16  :    Heb.  12  :  28,  29. 

VII. 

Neither  are  the  forementioned  uses  of  the  law. 
contrary  to  the  grace  of  the  Gospel,  but  do  sweet- 
ly comply  with  it,  w  the  Spirit  of  Christ  subduing 
and  enabling  the  will  of  man  to  do  that  freely 
and  cheerfully,  which  the  will  of  God,  revealed 
in  the  law,  required  to  be  done.  x 

w  Gal.  3  :  21.  x  Ezek.  36  :  26,  27  ;  Heb.  8  :  10  ;  Jei. 
31  :  33. 


6> 


66  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 


CHAP.  XX. 

OF  THE  GOSPEL,  AND  OF  THE  EXTENT  OF  THE 
GRACES  THEREOF. 

I. 

The  covenant  of  works  being  broken  by  sin, 
and  made  unprofitable  unto  life,  a  God  was  pleas- 
ed to  give  unto  the  elect  the  promise  of  Christ, 
the  seed  of  the  woman,  b  as  the  means  of  calling 
them,  and  begetting  in  them  faith  and  repentance.  c 
In  this  promise,  the  Gospel,  as  to  the  substance 
of  it,  was  revealed,  and  was  therein  effectual  for 
the  conversion  and  salvation  of  sinners.  d 

a  Rom.  8:3;  GaL  3:12.  b  Gen.  3  :  15  ;  Gal.  4:4,  5  ; 
Rev.  13  :  3.  c  1  Cor.  1  :  23,  24,  26  ;  Jam.  1  :  18  ;  Rom.  10  : 
8;    Acts  11  :15,  18.       dl  Cor.  2:2. 

II. 

The  promise  of  Christ,  and  salvation  by  him 
is  revealed  only  in  and  by  the  word  of  God  ;  e 
neither  do  the  works  of  creation  or  Providence, 
with  the  light  of  nature,  make  discovery  of 
Christ,  or  of  grace  b\  him,  so  much  as  in  a  gen- 
eral or  obscure  way  ;  f  much  less  that  men  des- 
titute of  the  revelation  of  him  by  the  promise, 
or  Gospel,  should  be  enabled  thereby  to  attain 
saving  faith  or  repentance.  S 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  67 

e  Matt.  11  :  27  ;  2  Tim.  1  :  10.  f  Rom.  1  :  19,  20  ;  Eph. 
2  :  12  ;  Rom.  16  :  25,  26  ;  Eph.  3:9.  g  1  Cor.  1:21:  Rom. 
10  :  14,  15  ;    Prov.  29  :  18. 

III. 

The  Revelation  of  the  Gospel  unto  sinners, 
made  at  divers  times,  and  by  sundry  parts,  with 
the  addition  of  promises  and  precepts  for  the 
obedience  required  therein,  as  to  the  nations  and 
persons  to  whom  it  is  granted,  is  merely  of  the 
sovereign  will  and  good  pleasure  of  God, h  not 
being  annexed  by  virtue  of  any  promise  to  the 
due  improvement  of  men's  natural  abilities,  by 
virtue  of  common  light  received  without  it,  which 
none  ever  did  make,  or  can  so  do. i  And  there- 
fore in  all  ages,  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  hath 
been  granted  unto  persons  and  nations,  as  to  the 
extent  or  straitening  of  it,  in  great  variety,  ac- 
cording to  the  counsel  of  the  will  of  God.  k 

h  Heb.  1:1,2;  Deut.  7  :  7,  8  ;  Psal.  147  :  19,  20  ;  Matt. 
21  :  43,  and  11  :  25,  26-  i  John  1 :  13,  and  3  :  6  ;  Rom.  9 :  16  ; 
Phil.  2:13;  John  15  :  5 ;  1  Cor.  2  :  14 ;  Rom  8:7.  k  Amos 
3:2;  Matt.  28  :  19,  and  21  :  43  ;    Eph.  1:11. 

IV. 

Although  the  Gospel  be  the  only  outward 
means  of  revealing  Christ  and  saving  grace,  and 
is  as  such,  abundantly  sufficient  thereunto  ;  yet 
that  men  who  are  dead  in  trespasses,  may  be 
born  again,  quickened  or  regenerated,  there  is 
moreover  necessary,  an  effectual,  irresistible  work 


68  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

of  the  Holy  Ghost  upon  the  whole  soul,  for  the 
producing  in  them  a  new  spiritual  life,  without 
which  no  other  means  are  sufficient  for  their  con- 
version unto  God. 1 

lEph.  2:1,  5;  Tit.3:5;  John  16  :  7to  12  ;  Acts  16:14: 
Eph.  1 :  19,  20  ;  1  Thes.  5  :  23  ;  John  3:6;  Gal.  2  :  8  ;  1  Cor. 
3  :  6,  7. 


CHAP.    XXI. 


OF     CHRISTIAN    LIBERTY,    AND    LIBERTY    OF    CON- 
SCIENCE. 

I. 

The  liberty  which  Christ  hath  purchased  for 
believers  under  the  Gospel,  consists  in  their  free- 
dom from  the  guilt  of  sin,  the  condemning  wrath 
of  God,  the  rigour  and  curse  of  the  law  ;  a  and 
in  their  being  delivered  from  this  present  evil 
world,  bondage  to  Satan,  and  dominion  of  sin ;  b 
from  the  evil  of  afflictions,  the  fear  and  sting  of 
death,  the  victory  of  the  grave,  and  everlasting 
damnation  ;  c  as  also  in  their  free  access  to  God,  d 
and  their  yielding  obedience  unto  him,  not  out  of 
slavish  fear,  but  a  child-like  love  and  willing 
mind  :  e  All  which  were  common  also  to  believers 
under  the  law,  for  the  substance  of  them ;  *"  but 
under  the  New  Testament,  the  liberty  of  Chris- 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  69 

tians  is  further  enlarged  in  their  freedom  from  the 
yoke  of  the  ceremonial  law,  the  whole  legal  ad- 
ministration of  the  covenant  of  grace,  to  which 
the  Jewish  church  was  subjected,  S  and  in  greater 
access  to  the  throne  of  grace, h  and  in  fuller 
communications  of  the  free  Spirit  of  God,  than 
believers  under  the  law  did  ordinarily  partake 
of.i 

a  Tit.  2  :  14  ;  1  Thes.  1  :  10  ;  Gal.  3:13.  b  Gal.  1:4; 
Col.  1:13;  Acts  26:  18;  Rom.  6  :  14.  c  Rom.  8  :  28 ;  Psal. 
119  :  71  ;  1  Cor.  15  :  54  to  57  ;  Rom.  6:1.  d  Rom.  5  :  1,  2. 
e  Rom.  8  :  14,  15  ;  1  John  4  :  18-  f  Gal.  3  :  13,  14-  g  Gal. 
4  :  1  to  7,  and  5  :  1  ;  Acts  15  :  10,  11.  h  Heb.  4  :  14,  16,  and 
10  :  19  to  22.      i  John  7  :  38,  39  ;    2  Cor.  13  :  17,  18. 

II. 

God  alone  is  Lord  of  the  conscience, k  and 
hath  left  it  free  from  the  doctrines  and  command- 
ments of  men,  which  are  in  any  thing  contrary 
to  his  word,  or  not  contained  in  it ; 1  so  that  to 
believe  such  doctrines,  or  to  obey  such  com- 
mands out  of  conscience,  is  to  betray  true  liber- 
ty of  conscience ;  m  and  the  requiring  of  an  im- 
plicit faith,  and  an  absolute  and  blind  obedience, 
is  to  destroy  liberty  of  conscience,  and  reason 
also.  n 

k  Jam.  4  :  12 ;  Rom.  14  : 4.  1  Acts  4 :  19,  and  5  :  29  ;  1  Cor. 
7  :  23  ;  Matt.  23  :  8,  9,  10  :  2  Cor.  1 :  24  ;  Matt.  15 : 9.  m  Col. 
2  :  10,  22,  23  ;  Gal.  1  :  10,  and  2  :  2,  4,  5,  and  5:1.  n  Rom. 
10  :  11,  and  14  :  23  ;  Isa.  8  :  20 ;  Acts  17  :  11  ;  John  4  :  22  : 
Hosea  5  :  11  j    Jer.  8  :  9- 


70  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

III. 

They  who  upon  pretence  of  Christian  liberty 
do  practice  any  sin,  or  cherish  any  lust,  as  they 
do  thereby  pervert  the  main  design  of  the  grace 
of  the  Gospel  to  their  own  destruction  ;  so  they 
wholly  destroy  the  end  of  Christian  liberty  ;  which 
is  that  being  delivered  out  of  the  hands  of  our 
enemies,  we  might  serve  the  Lord  without  fear, 
in  holiness  and  righteousness  before  him  all  the 
days  of  our  life.  ° 

o  Gal.  5  :  13  ;  1  Pet.  2  :  16  ;  2  Pet.  2  :  19  ;  John  8  :  31 ; 
Luke  1  :  74,  75. 


CHAP.  XXII. 


OF    RELIGIOUS    WORSHIP,    AND     OF    THE    SABBATH 
DAY. 

I. 

The  light  of  nature  sheweth  that  there  is  a 
God,  who  hath  lordship  and  sovereignty  over  all, 
is  just,  good,  and  doth  good  unto  all,  and  is 
therefore  to  be  feared,  loved,  praised,  called  upon, 
trusted  in,  and  served  with  all  the  heart  and  all  the 
soul,  and  with  all  the  might :  a  But  the  accepta- 
ble way  of  worshipping  the  true  God,  is  institu- 
ted by  himself,  and  so  limited  by  his  own  reveal- 
ed will,  that  he  may  not  be  worshipped  according 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  71 

to  the  imaginations  and  devices  of  men,  or  the 
suggestions  of  Satan,  under  any  visible  represen- 
tations, or  any  other  way  not  prescribed  in  the 
Holy  Scripture.  b 

a  Rom.  1:20;  Acts  17  :  24  ;  Psal.  119:64;  Jer.  10  :  7  ; 
Psal.  31  :  23,  and  18  :  3  ;  Rom.  10  :  12  ;  Psal.  62  :  8  ;  Josh. 
24  :  14  ;  Mark  12  :  33.  b  Deut.  12  :  32  ;  Matt.  15  :  9  ;  Acts 
17  :  25  ;  Matt.  4  :  9,  10  ;  Deut.  4  :  15  to  20  ;  Exod.  20  :  4,  5 ; 
Col.  2  :  23. 

II. 

Religious  worship  is  to  be  given  to  God  the 
Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost,  and  to  him  alone  ;  c 
not  to  Angels,  Saints,  or  any  other  creatures ; d 
and  since  the  fall,  not  without  a  Mediator,  nor 
in  the  mediation  of  any  other  but  of  Christ  alone.  e 

c  Matt.  4  :  10  ;  John  5  :  23,  and  2  Cor.  13  :  14.  d  Col.  2  : 
18  ;  Rev.  19  :  10  ;  Rom.  1  :  25.  e  John  14:6;  1  Tim.  2:5; 
Eph.  2  :  18  ;    Col.  3  :  17. 

III. 

Prayer  with  thanksgiving,  being  one  special 
part  of  natural  worship, f  is  by  God  required  of 
all  men ;  8"  but  that  it  may  be  accepted  it  is  to  be 
made  in  the  name  of  the  Son,  h  by  the  help  of 
the  Spirit, "  according  to  his  will, k  with  under- 
standing, reverence,  humility,  fervency,  faith, 
love,  and  perseverance  :  *  and  when  with  others 
in  a  known  tongue.  m 

f  Phil.  4:6.  g  Psal.  65  :  2.  h  John  14  :  13,  14  ;  1  Pet. 
2:5.      i  Rom.  8  :  26.      k  1  John  5  :  14.      1  Psal.  47  : 7 ;    Eccl. 


72  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

5  :  1,  2  ;  Heb.  12  :  28  ;  Gen.  18  :  27  ;  James  5  :  10  ;  Mark 
11:24;  Matt.  6:  12,  14,  15;  Col.  4:2;  Eph.  6  :  18.  m  lCor. 
14  :  14. 

IV. 

Prayer  is  to  be  made  for  things  lawful,  n  and 
for  all  sorts  of  men  living,  or  that  shall  live  here- 
after, °  but  not  for  the  dead,  P  nor  for  those  of 
whom  it  may  be  known  that  they  have  sinned  the 
sin  unto  death.  <l 

n  1  John  5:14.  o  1  Tim.  2  :  1,  2  ;  John  17  :  20  ;  2  Sam. 
7  :  29  ;  Ruth  4  :  12.  p  2  Sam.  12  :  21,  22,  23,  with  Luke  16  : 
25,  26  ;    Rev.  14  :  13.       q  1  John  5  :  16. 


The  reading  of  the  Scriptures, r  preaching, s  and 
hearing  the  word  of  God, l  singing  of  Psalms, u 
as  also  the  administration  of  Baptism  and  the 
Lord's  Supper,  are  all  parts  of  religious  worship 
of  God,  to  be  performed  in  obedience  unto  God 
with  understanding,  faith,  reverence,  and  godly 
fear  ;  w  solemn  humiliations,  with  fastings, x  and 
thanksgiving  upon  special  occasions,  y  are  in  their 
several  times  and  seasons  to  be  used  in  an  holy 
and  religious  manner.  z 

r  Acts  15  :  21 ;  Rev.  1:3.  s  2  Tim.  4:2.  t  Jam.  1:21, 
22  ;  Acts  10  :  33  ;  Matt  13  :  19  ;  Heb.  4:2;  Isaiah  66  : 2. 
u  Col.  3 :  16  ;  Eph.  5  :  19  ;  James  5  :  13.  wMatt.  28  :  19  ; 
1  Cor.  11  :  23  to  29  ;  Acts  2  :  41,  42.  xJoel2:12;  Esther 
4 :  16  ;  Mark  9  :  29  ;  lCor.  7:5.  y  Psal.  107,  per  tot. ;  Esther 
9  ;  22.       z  Heb.  12  :  28. 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  73 

VI. 

Neither  prayer,  nor  any  other  part  of  religious 
worship,  is  now  under  the  Gospel  either  tied  unto, 
or  made  more  acceptable  by  any  place  in  which 
it  is  performed,  or  towards  which  it  is  directed.  a 
But  God  is  to  be  worshipped  every  where,  b  in 
spirit  and  in  truth,  c  as  in  private  families  d  daily,  e 
and  in  secret  each  one  by  himself, f  so  more 
solemnly  in  the  public  assemblies,  which  are  not 
carelessly  nor  wilfully  to  be  neglected  or  forsa- 
ken, when  God  by  his  word  or  providence  calleth 
thereunto.  S 

a  John  4  :  21.  b  Mai.  1:11;  1  Tim.  2:8.  c  John  4  ; 
23,  24.  d  Jer.  10  :  25  ;  Deut.  6  :  6,  7  :  Job  1  :  5  ;  2  Sam.  6  : 
18,  20  ;  1  Pet.  3:7;  Acts  10  :  2.  e  Matt.  6  ■  11.  f  Matt. 
6.6;  Eph.  6  :  18-  g  Isa.  56  :  6,  7  ;  Heb.  10  :  25  ;  Prov.  1 : 
20,  2i,  24,  and  8  :  34  ;    Acts  13  :  42  ;    Luke  4  :  16  ;  Acts  2  :  42. 

VII. 

As  it  is  of  the  law  of  nature,  that  in  general, 
a  proportion  of  time,  by  God's  appointment,  be 
set  apart  for  the  worship  of  God  ;  so  by  his  word 
in  a  positive,  moral,  and  perpetual  command- 
ment, binding  all  men  in  all  ages,  he  hath  par- 
ticularly appointed  one  day  in  seven  for  a  Sab- 
bath to  be  kept  holy  unto  him, Q  which  from  the 
beginning  of  the  world  to  the  resurrection  of 
Christ,  was  the  last  day  of  the  week,  and  from 
the  resurrection  of  Christ  was  changed  into  the 
7 


74  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

first  day  of  the  week, \  which  in  Scripture  is 
called  the  Lord's  day, k  and  is  to  be  continued  to 
the  end  of  the  world  as  the  Christian  Sabbath,  } 
the  observation  of  the  last  day  of  the  week  being 
abolished.  m 

h  Exod.  20  :  8  to  11  ;  Isa.56  :  2  to  7.  i  Gen.  2  :  2,  3;  1  Cor. 
6:1,2;  Acts  20  :  7.  k  Rev.  1  :  10.  1  Exod.  20 :  8, 10,  with 
Matt.  5  :  17,  18.       m  Col.  2  :  16,  17  ;    Heb.  4  :  9,  10. 

VIII. 

This  Sabbath  is  then  kept  holy  unto  the  Lord, 
when  men,  after  a  due  preparing  of  their  hearts 
and  ordering  their  common  affairs  beforehand,  do 
not  only  observe  an  holy  rest  all  the  day  from 
their  own  works,  words,  and  thoughts,  about 
their  worldly  employments  and  recreations, n  but 
also  are  taken  up  the  whole  time  in  the  public 
and  private  exercises  of  his  worship,  and  in  the 
duties  of  necessity  and  mercy.  ° 

n  Exod.  20  :  8,  and  16  :  23  to  30,  and  13  :  12  to  18  ;  Jsa.  58  . 
13;    Neh.  13  :  15  to  23.       o  Isa.  58:13;    Matt.  12  :  1  to  14. 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  75 

CHAP.  XXIII. 

OF    LAWFUL    OATHS    AND    VOWS. 
I. 

A  lawful  oath  is  a  part  of  religious  worship,  a 
wherein  the  person  swearing  in  truth,  righteous- 
ness, and  judgment,  solemnly  calleth  God  to  wit- 
ness what  he  asserteth,  or  promiseth,  and  to  judge 
him  according  to  the  truth  or  falsehood  of  what 
he  sweareth.  b 

a  Deut.  10  :  20.  b  Jer.  4:2;  Exod.  20  :  7  ;  Lev.  19  :  12 ; 
2  Cor.  1  :  23  ;    2  Chron.  6  :  22,  23. 

II. 

The  name  of  God  only  is  that  by  which  men 
ought  to  swear,  and  therein  it  is  to  be  used  with 
all  holy  fear  and  reverence  : c  Therefore  to  swear 
vainly  or  rashly  by  that  glorious  and  dreadful 
name,  or  to  swear  at  all  by  any  other  thing,  is 
sinful  and  to  be  abhorred : d  yet  as  in  matters  of 
weight  and  moment  an  oath  is  warranted  by  the 
word  of  God  under  the  New  Testament  as  well 
as  under  the  Old,  e  so  a  lawful  oath  being  impos- 
ed by  lawful  authority  in  such  matters  ought  to 
be  taken.  f 

c  Deut  6:13.  d  Exod.  20  :  7 ;  Jer.  5:7;  Matt.  5  :  34, 35> 
36;  James  5. 12.  e  Heb.  6  :  16  ;  2  Cor.  1 :  23  ;  Isa.  65  :  16. 
f  1  Kings  8  :  31 ;    Neh.  13  :  25  ;    Ezra  10  :  5. 


76  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

III. 

Whosoever    taketh   an   oath   warranted  by  the 

word  of  God,  ought  duly  to  consider  the  weigh- 

tiness  of  so  solemn  an  act,  and  therein  to  avouch 

nothing   but  what   he   is    fully  persuaded  is  the 

truth  :  S  neither  may  any  man  bind  himself  by  an 

oath  to   any  thing  but  what  is  good  and  just,  and 

what  he  believeth  so  to  be,  and  what  he  is  able 

and  resolved  to  perform  :  h  yet  it  is  a  sin  to  refuse 

an  oath  touching  any  thing  that  is  good   and  just 

being  law  fully  imposed  by  authority. l 

g  Exod.  20  :  7  ;  Jer.  4:2.  h  Gen.  24  : 1,  2,  3,  5,  6,  8,  9. 
i  Num.  5  :  19,  21 ;    Neh.  5  :  12  ;  Exod.  22  :  11. 

IV. 

An  oath  is  to  be  taken  in  the  plain  and  common 
sense  of  the  words,  without  equivocation  or  men- 
tal reservation.  k  It  cannot  oblige  to  sin  ;  but  in 
any  thing  not  sinful  being  taken,  it  binds  to  per- 
formance, although  to  a  man's  own  hurt ; 1  nor 
is  it  to  be  violated,  although  made  to  heretics  or 
infidels.  m 

k  Jer.  4:2;  Psal.  24  :  4-  1  1  Sam.  25  :  22,  31,  33,  34 ;  Psal. 
15  :  4.  m  Ezek.  17  :  16,  18,  19  ;  Josh.  9  i  18,  19,  with  2  Sam. 
21:  1. 

V. 

A  vow,  which  is  not  to  be  made  to  any  creature, 
but  to  God  alone,  is  of  the  like  nature  with  a  pro- 
missory oath,  and  ought  to  be  made  with  the  like 


A    CONFESSION    OF   FAITH.  77 

religious  care,  and  to  be  performed  with  the  like 
faithfulness.  n 

n  Psal.  76  :  11  ;  Jer.  44  :  25,  26 ;  Psal.  50  :  14,  and  65  :  1  : 
Isa.  19  :  21  :  Eccl.  5  :  4,  5,  6  ;  Psal.  61  :  8,  and  G6  :  13,  14. 

VI. 

Popish  monastical  vows  of  perpetual  single  life, 
professed  poverty,  and  regular  obedience,  are  so 
far  from  being  degrees  of  higher  perfection,  that 
they  are  superstitious  and  sinful  snares,  in  which 
no  Christian  may  entangle  himself.  ° 

o  Matt.  19  :  11,  12  ;  lCor.  7:2,  9  ;  Eph.  4  :  28  ;  1  Peter 
4  :  2  ;  1  Cor.  7  :  23. 


CHAP.  XXIV. 

OF    THE    CIVIL    MAGISTRATE. 
I. 

God  the  Supreme  Lord  and  King  of  all  the 
world,  hath  ordained  civil  magistrates  to  be,  under 
him,  over  the  people  for  his  own  glory  and  the 
public  good  ;  and  to  this  end  hath  armed  them 
with  the  power  of  the  sword,  for  the  defence  and 
encouragement  of  them  that  do  good,  and  for  the 
punishment  of  evil-doers.  a 

a  Rom.  13  :  1  to  4  ;    1  Pet.  2  :  13,  14. 

7* 


78  a    CONFESSION    OF   FAITH. 

II. 

It  is  lawful  for  Christians  to  accept  and  exe- 
cute the  office  of  a  magistrate  when  called  there- 
unto :  b  in  the  management  whereof,  as  they  ought, 
especially  to  maintain  piety,  justice,  and  peace, 
according  to  the  wholesome  laws  of  each  com- 
monwealth ;  c  so,  for  that  end,  they  may  lawfully 
now,  under  the  New  Testament,  wage  war  upon 
just  and  necessary  occasion.  d 

b  Prov.  8  :  15,  16  ;  Rom.  13  : 1,  2,  4.  c  Psal.  2  :  10  to  12  ; 
1  Tim.  2:3;  Psal.  82  :  3,  4  ;  2  Sam.  23  :  3  ;  1  Peter  2  :  13. 
d  Luke  3  :  14  ;  Rom.  13  :  4  ;  Matt.  8  :  9,  10  ;  Acts  10  ;  1,  2  ; 
Rev.  17  :  14,  16. 

III. 

They  who,  upon  pretence  of  Christian  liberty, 
shall  oppose  any  lawful  power,  or  the  lawful  ex- 
ercise of  it,  resist  the  ordinance  of  God  ;  and  for 
their  publishing  of  such  opinions,  or  maintaining 
of  such  practices  as  are  contrary  to  the  light  of 
nature,  or  to  the  known  principles  of  Christian- 
ity, whether  concerning  faith,  worship,  or  con- 
versation*; or  to  the  power  of  godliness  ;  or  such 
erroneous  opinions  or  practices,  as  either  in  their 
own  nature,  or  in  the  manner  of  publishing  or 
maintaining  them,  are  destructive  to  the  external 
peace  or  order  which  Christ  hath  established  in 
the  church ;  they  may  lawfully  be  called  to  an 
account,  and  proceeded  against  by  the  censures 
of  the   church,    and  by  the  power  of  the   civil 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  79 

magistrate  :  yet  in  such  differences  about  the 
doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  or  ways  of  the  wor- 
ship of  God  as  may  befall  men  exercising  a  good 
conscience,  manifesting  it  in  their  conversation, 
and  holding  the  foundation,  and  duly  observing 
the  rules  of  peace  and  order,  there  is  no  war- 
rant for  the  magistrate  to  abridge  them  of  their 
liberty. 

IV. 

It  is  the  duty  of  people  to  pray  for  magistrates, 
to  honor  their  persons,  to  pay  them  tribute  and 
other  dues,  to  obey  their  lawful  commands,  and 
to  be  subject  to  their  authority  for  conscience 
sake.  Infidelity,  or  difference  in  religion,  doth 
not  make  void  the  magistrate's  just  and  legal 
authority,  nor  free  the  people  from  their  due 
obedience  to  him,  from  which  ecclesiastical  per- 
sons are  not  exempted  ;  much  less  hath  the  Pope 
any  power  and  jurisdiction  over  them  in  their  do- 
minions, or  over  any  of  their  people,  and  least  of 
all  to  deprive  them  of  their  dominions  or  lives  if 
he  shall  judge  them  to  be  heretics,  or  upon  any- 
other  pretence  whatsoever. 

I  Tim.  2:12;  1  Pet.  2  :  17  ;  Rom.  13:6,  7,  and  13  :  5;  Tit. 
3:1;  lPet.  2  :  13,  14,  16  ;  Rom.  13  :  1 ;  1  Kings  2  :  35  ;  Acts 
25  :  9,  10,  11  ;  2  Pet.  2  : 1,  10, 11 ;  Jude  5  :  8  to  11 ;  2  Thes. 
2:4;    Rev.  13  :  15,  16,  17. 


80  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

CHAP.  XXY. 

OF    MARRIAGE. 
I. 

Marriage  is  to  be  between  one  man  and  one 
woman  :  neither  is  it  lawful  for  any  man  to  have 
more  than  one  wife,  nor  for  any  woman  to  have 
more  than  one  husband,  at  the  same  time.  a 

a  Gen.  2  :  24  ;    Matt.  19  :  5,  6  ;  Prov.  2  :  17. 

II. 

Marriage  was  ordained  for  the  mutual  help 
of  husband  and  wife,  b  for  the  increase  of  man- 
kind with  a  legitimate  issue,  and  of  the  church 
with  an  holy  seed,  c  and  for  preventing  unclean  - 
ness.  d 

b  Gen.  2  :  18-       c  Mai.  2  :  15-       d  1  Cor.  7  :  2,  9. 
III. 

It  is  lawful  for  all  sorts  of  people  to  marry, 
who  are  able  with  judgment  to  give  their  con- 
sent ;  e  yet  it  is  the  duty  of  Christians  to  marry 
in  the  Lord, f  and  therefore  such  as  profess  the 
true  reformed  religion,  should  not  marry  with 
infidels,  papists,  or  other  idolaters  :  neither  should 
such  as  are  godly  be  unequally  yoked,  by  marry- 
ing such  as  are  wicked  in  their  life,  or  maintain 
damnable  heresy.  S 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  81 

e  Heb.  13  :  4  ;  1  Tim.  4  :  3  ;  1  Cor.  7  :  36,  37,  38  ;  Gen.  24 
57,  58.   f  I  Cor.  7  :  39.   g  Gen.  34  :  14  ;  Exod.  34  :  16  ;  Deut. 
7  :  3,  4  ;  1  Kings  11:4;  Neh.  13  :  25,  26,  27  ;  Mai.  2  :  11,  12 ; 
2  Cor.  6:  14. 

IV. 

Marriage  ought  not  to  be  within  the  degrees  of 
consanguinity  or  affinity  forbidden  in  the  Word  ;  h 
nor  can  such  incestuous  marriages  ever  be  made 
lawful  by  any  law  of  man  or  consent  of  parties? 
so  as  those  persons  may  live  together  as  man  and 
wife.  ■ 

h  Lev.  18  i  1  Cor.  5:1;  Amos  2:7.  i  Mark  6  :  18  ;  Lev. 
18  :  24  to  29. 


CHAP.  XXVI. 


OF    THE    CHURCH. 


I. 

The  Catholic  or  Universal  Church  which  is 
invisible,  consists  of  the  whole  number  of  the 
elect,  that  have  been,  are,  or  shall  be  gathered 
into  one  under  Christ,  the  Head  thereof,  and  the 
Spouse,  the  Body,  the  fulness  of  Him  that  filleth 
all  and  in  all.  a 

a  Eph.  1  :  10,  22,  23,  and  5  :  23,  27,  32  ;    Col.  1 :  18. 


82  A   CONFESSION    OF   FAITH. 

II. 

The  whole  body  of  men  throughout  the  world, 
professing  the  faith  of  the  Gospel,  and  obedience 
unto  God  by  Christ  according  unto  it,  b  not  de- 
stroying their  own  profession  by  any  errors 
everting  the  foundation, c  or  unholiness  of  con- 
versation, they  d  and  their  children  e  with  them, 
are,  and  may  be  called  the  visible  Catholic  Church 
of  Christ,  f  although  as  such  it  is  not  intrusted 
with  any  officers  to  rule  or  govern  over  the  whole 
body.  S. 

b  1  Cor.  1:2;  Col.  2  :  19  ;  c  1  Tim.  1  :  19,  20.  d  2  Tim. 
2:19;  Tit.  1  :  16-  el  Cor.  7  :  14  ;  Acts  2  :  39  ;  Ezek.  16  : 
20,  21  ;  Rom.  11 :  16  ;  Gen.  17  :  7.  f  ICor.  12  :  12,  13;  Rom. 
15  : 9, 10,  12.  g  Eph.  4  :  8,  11,  12  ;  Rom.  12  :  6,  7,  8  ;  1  Cor. 
12  :  28,  29,  30. 

III. 

The  purest  churches  under  heaven  are  subject 
both  to  mixture  and  error, h  and  some  have  so 
degenerated  as  to  become  no  churches  of  Christ, 
but  synagogues  of  Satan : i  Nevertheless  Christ 
always  hath  had,  and  ever  shall  have  a  visible 
kingdom  in  this  world,  to  the  end  thereof,  of  such 
as  believe  in  him,  and  make  profession  of  his 
name.  k 

h  ICor.  13  :  12  ;  Rev.  2d  and  3d  chapters  ;  Matt.  13  :  24 
to  30,  42.  i  Rev.  28  :  2  ;  Rom.  11 :  18  to  23.  k  Matt.  16 :  18 ; 
Psal.  72  :  17,  and  102  :  28  ;    Matt.  28  ;  19,  20. 


1 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  83 

IV. 

There  is  no  other  head  of  the  Church  but  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ ; l  nor  can  the  Pope  of  Rome 
in  any  sense  be  head  thereof,  but  is  that  Anti- 
christ, that  man  of  sin,  and  son  of  perdition  that 
exalteth  himself  in  the  Church  against  Christ  and 
all  that  is  called  God,  whom  the  Lord  shall  de- 
stroy with  the  brightness  of  his  coming.  m 

1  Col.  1  :  18  ;  Eph.  1 :  22.  m  Matt.  23  :  8,  9,  10  ;  2  Thes. 
2  :  3.  4,  8,  9  ;   Rev.  13  :  6. 


As  the  Lord,  in  his  care  and  love  towards  his 
Church,  hath  in  his  infinite  wise  providence,  ex- 
ercised it  with  great  variety  in  all  ages,  for  the 
good  of  them  that  love  him,  and  his  own  glory  ;  n 
so  according  to  his  promise,  we  expect  that  in 
the  latter  days,  Antichrist  being  destroyed,  °  the 
Jews  called,  P  and  the  adversaries  of  the  king- 
dom of  his  dear  Son  broken  ;  <l  the  churches  of 
Christ,  being  enlarged  and  edified  through  a  free 
and  plentiful  communication  of  light  and  grace, 
shall  enjoy  in  this  world  a  more  quiet,  peaceable, 
and  glorious  condition  than  they  have  enjoyed.  r 

n  Acts  7 : 1  to  51,  and  14 :  22,  and  8 : 1,  with  9 :  31.  o  2  Thes. 
2  :  8,  9,  10  ;  Rev.  18  :  2,  4,  21,  and  17  :  16.  p  Rom.  10  :  1, 
and  11  :  23  to  32.  q  Psal.  110  :  1,  and  2:9.  r  Isa.  11:9; 
Joel  2  :  28, 29  ;  Isa.  2  :  2,  3,  4  ;  Mic.  4:3;  Psal.  87  :  2  to  end  ; 
Dan.  7  :  27. 


84  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

CHAP.  XXVII. 

OF    THE    COMMUNION    OF    SAINTS. 
I. 

All  saints  that  are  united  to  Jesus  Christ  their 
head  by  his  Spirit  and  faith,  although  they  are  not 
made  thereby  one  person  with  him,  a  have  fellow- 
ship in  his  graces,  sufferings,  death,  resurrection, 
and  glory  :  b  and  being  united  to  one  another  in 
love,  they  have  communion  in  each  others'  gifts 
and  graces, c  and  are  obliged  to  the  performance 
of  such  duties,  public  and  private,  as  do  conduce 
to  their  mutual  good,  both  in  the  inward  and  out- 
ward man.  d 

a  Col.  1  :  18,   19  ;    1  Cor.  8:6;    Isa.  42  :  8  ;    1  Tim.  6  ■  15, 
16  ;  Psal.  45  :  7,  with  Heb.  1  :  8,  9.       b  Uohn  1  :  3  ;    Eph.  3 
16  to  19  ;    John  1  :  16  ;    Eph.  2  :  5,  6  ;    Phil.  3  :  10  ;    Rom.  6 
5,6;    2  Tim.  2:12.       c  Eph.  4  :  15,  16  ;    1  Cor.  12  :  7,  and  3 
21,  22,  23  ;    Col.  2  :  19.       d  1  Thes.  5  i  11,   14  ;    Rom.  1  \  11, 
12,  14  ;    Uohn  3  :  16,  17,  18  ;    Gal.  6  >.  10. 

II. 

All  saints  are  bound  to  maintain  an  holy  fellow- 
ship and  communion  in  the  worship  of  God,  and 
in  performing  such  other  spiritual  services  as 
tend  to  their  mutual  edification,  c  as  also  in  re- 
lieving each  other  in  outward  things  according 
to  their    several   abilities  and  necessities  :  which 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAJTU.  85 

communion,  though  especially  to  be  exercised  by 
them  for  the  relations  in  which  they  stand,  wheth- 
er in  families  or  in  churches,  yet  as  God  ofFereth 
opportunity,  is  to  be  extended  unto  all  those  who 
in  every  place  call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord 
Jesus,  g 

eHeb.  10:24,25;  Acts2:42,46;  Isa.2:3;  lCor.2:20- 
f  Eph.  6  :  2,  4,  5,  9,  and  5  :  22  to  26  ;  1  Tim.  5:8;  Gal.  6  :  10. 
g  Acts  2  :  44,  45  ;  1  John  3  :  17  ;  2  Cor.  8th  and  9th  chapters ; 
Acts  11  :  29,  30. 


CHAP.    XXVIII. 


OF    THE    SACRAMENTS. 


I. 

Sacraments  are  holy  signs  and  seals  of  the 
covenant  of  grace, a  immediately  instituted  by 
Christ, b  to  represent  him  and  his  benefits,  and 
to  confirm  our  interest  in  him,  c  and  solemnly  to 
engage  us  to  the  service  of  God  in  Christ,  ac- 
cording to  his  Word.  d 

a  Rom.  4:11;  Gen.  17  :  7,  10.  b  Matt.  28  :  19  ;  1  Cor. 
11  :  23.  c  1  Cor.  10  :  16,  and  11  ;  25,  26.  d  Rom.  6  :  3,  4  ; 
1  Cor.  10:  16,21. 

8 


-m 


86  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

II. 

There  is  in  every  Sacrament  a  spiritual  rela- 
tion or  sacramental  union  between  the  sign,  and 
the  thing  signified  ;  whence  it  comes  to  pass  that 
the  names  and  effects  of  the  one  are  attributed  to 
the  other.  e 

e  Gen.  17  :  10  ;    Matt.  26  :  27,  28  ;   Tit.  3  :  5. 

III. 

The  grace  which  is  exhibited  in  or  by  the 
sacraments  rightly  used,  is  not  conferred  by  any 
power  in  them,  neither  doth  the  efficacy  of  the 
sacrament  depend  upon  the  piety  or  intention  of 
him  that  doth  administer  it, f  but  upon  the  work 
of  the  Spirit,  8  and  the  Word  of  institution, 
which  contains,  together  with  a  precept  author- 
izing the  use  thereof,  a  promise  of  benefit  to 
worthy  receivers.  h 

f  Rom.  2:28,  29;  1  Pet  3  :  21-  g  Matt.  3  :  11 ;  1  Cor. 
12  :  13.       h  Matt.  26  :  27,  28,  and  28  :  19,  20. 

IV. 

There  be  only  two  sacraments  ordained  by 
Christ  our  Lord,  in  the  Gospel,  that  is  to  say, 
Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper  ;  neither  of  which 
may  be  dispensed  by  any  but  by  a  minister  of  the 
Word  lawfully  called.  ■ 

i  Matt.  28  :  19  ;    1  Cor.  11  :  20,  23,  and  4  :  1  ;    Heb.  5  :  4- 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  87 

V. 

The  Sacraments  of  the  Old  Testament,  in  re. 
gard  of  the  spiritual  things  thereby  signified  and 
exhibited,  were  for  substance  the  same  with  those 
of  the  New.  k 

k  1  Cor.  10  :  1,  2,  3,  4- 


CHAP.  XXIX. 


OF    BAPTISM. 


I. 

Baptism  is  a  Sacrament  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment, ordained  by  Jesus  Christ,  a  to  be  unto  the 
party  baptized  a  sign  and  seal  of  the  Covenant 
of  Grace  :  b  of  his  ingrafting  into  Christ  ;  c  of 
regeneration  ;  d  of  remission  of  sins,  e  and  of  his 
giving  up  unto  God,  through  Jesus  Christ,  to 
walk  in  newness  of  life ;  f  which  ordinance  is  by 
Christ's  own  appointment,  to  be  continued  in  his 
church  until  the  end  of  the  world.  §" 

a  Matt.  28  :  16.  b  Rom.  4  :  11,  with  Col.  2  :  11, 12.  c  Gal. 
3  :  27  ;  Rom.  6:5.  d  Tit.  3:5.  e  Mark  1:4.  f  Rom.  6  : 
3,  4.      g  Matt.  28  :  19,  20. 

II. 

The  outward  element  to  be  used  in  this  ordi- 
nance is  water,  wherewith  the  party  is  to  be 
baptized  in  the   name   of  the  Father,  and  of  the 


88  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  by  a  minister  of  the 
Gospel,  lawfully  called  thereunto.  h 
h  Matt.  3:11:    John  1  :  33  ;    Matt.  28  :  19,  20- 

III. 

Dipping  of  the  person  into  the  water  is  not 
necessary  ;  but  baptism  is  rightly  administered 
by  pouring  or  sprinkling  water  upon  the  person. ' 

i  Heb.  9  :  10,  19  to  22  ;  Acts  2  :  41,  and  16  :  33  ;  Mark  7  : 4- 

IV. 

Not  only  those  that  do  actually  profess  faith 
in,  and  obedience  unto  Christ,  k  but  also  the  in- 
fants of  one  or  both  believing  parents  are  to  be 
baptized,  and  those  only.  * 

k  Mark  16  :  15,  16  ;  Acts  8  :  37,  38.  1  Gen.  17  :  7,  9,  with 
Gal.  3  :  9,  14,  and  Col.  2  :  11,  and  Acts  2  i  38,  39,  and  Rom.  4  : 
11,  12  ;  1  Cor.  7  :  14  ;  Matt  28  :  19  ;  Mark  10  ;  13  to  16  ; 
Luke  18  :  15. 

V. 

Although  it  be  a  great  sin  to  contemn  or  neg- 
lect this  ordinance, m  yet  grace  and  salvation 
are  not  so  inseparably  annexed  to  it,  as  that  no 
person  can  be  regenerate  or  saved  without  it ;  n 
or  that  all  that  are  baptized  are  undoubtedly  re- 
generated. ° 

m  Luke  7  :  30,  with  Exod.  4  :  24,  25,  26.  n  Rom.  4:11: 
Acts  10  :  2,  4,  22,  31,  45,  47.      o  Acts  9  :  13,  23. 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  89 

VI. 

The  efficacy  of  baptism  is  not  tied  to  that  mo- 
ment of  time  wherein  it  is  administered  ;  P  yet 
notwithstanding,  by  the  right  use  of  this  ordi- 
nance, the  grace  promised  is  not  only  offered,  but 
really  exhibited  and  conferred  by  the  Holy  Ghost 
to  such,  (whether  of  age  or  infants,)  as  that 
grace  belongeth  unto,  according  to  the  counsel  of 
God's  own  will  in  his  appointed  time.  <l 

p  John  3  :  5,  8.  q  Gal.  3  :  27  ;  Tit.  3:5;  Eph.  5  :  25,  26  j 
Acts  2  :  38,41. 

VII. 

Baptism  is  but  once  to  be  administered  to  any 
person. r 
r  Titus  3  :  5- 


90  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

CHAP.   XXX. 

OF    THE    LORD'S    SUPFER. 
I. 

Our  Lord  Jesus,  in  the  night  wherein  he  was 
betrayed,  instituted  the  Sacrament  of  his  body 
and  blood,  called  the  Lord's  Supper,  to  be  ob- 
served in  his  churches  to  the  end  of  the  world  ; 
for  the  perpetual  remembrance,  and  shewing 
forth  of  the  sacrifice  of  himself  m  his  death  ;  the 
sealing  of  all  benefits  thereof  unto  true  believers ; 
their  spiritual  nourishment  and  growth  in  Him  ; 
their  further  engagement  in  and  to  all  duties 
which  they  owe  unto  him ;  and  to  be  a  bond  and 
pledge  of  their  communion  with  Him  and  with 
each  other.  a 

a  1  Cor.  11  :  23,  24,  25,  26,  and  10  :  16,  17,  21,  and  12  :  13. 

II. 

In  this  Sacrament,  Christ  is  not  offered  up  to 
his  Father,  nor  any  real  sacrifice  made  at  all  for 
remission  of  sin  of  the  quick  or  dead ;  b  but  only 
a  memorial  of  that  one  offering  up  of  himself 
upon  the  Cross,  once  for  all,  and  a  spiritual  obla- 
tion of  all  possible  praise  unto  God  for  the  same ;  c 
so  that  the  Popish  sacrifice  of  the  Mass,  (as  they 
call  it,)  is   most  abominably  injurious  to  Christ's 


1 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  91 

own,  only  sacrifice,  the  alone  propitiation  for  all 
the  sins  of  the  elect.  d 

b  Heb.  9  i  22,  25,  26,  28.  c  1  Cor.  11  :  24,  25,  26  ;  Matt. 
26  :  26,  27.       d  Heb.  7  :  23,  24,  27,  and  10  :  11,  12,  14,  18. 

III. 

The  Lord  Jesus  hath  in  this  ordinance  appoint- 
ed his  ministers  to  declare  his  Word  of  institution 
to  the  people,  to  pray,  and  bless  the  elements  of 
bread  and  wine,  and  thereby  to  set  them  apart 
from  a  common  to  an  holy  use,  and  to  take  and 
break  the  bread,  to  take  the  cup,  and  (they  com- 
municating also  themselves)  to  give  both  to  the 
communicants,  d  but  to  none  who  are  not  then 
present  in  the  congregation.  f 

e  Matt.  26  :  26,  27,  28  ;  Mark  H  :  22,  23,  24  ;  Luke  22  : 
19,20;    1  Cor.  11  :  23  to  26.       fActs20:7;    1  Cor.  11  :  20. 

IV. 

Private  Masses,  or  receiving  the  Sacrament 
by  a  Priest,  or  any  other  alone,  8  as  likewise  the 
denial  of  the  cup  to  the  people,  h  worshipping  the 
elements,  the  lifting  them  up  or  carrying  them 
about  for  adoration,  and  reserving  them  for  any 
pretended  religious  use,  are  all  contrary  to  the 
nature  of  this  sacrament,  and  to  the  institution  of 
Christ. « 

gl  Cor.  10:6.       h  Mark  14:  23;    11  Cor.  1  :  25  to  30. 

i  Matt  15:  9. 


1 


92  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

V. 

The  outward  elements  in  this  Sacrament,  duly 
set  apart  to  the  uses  ordained  by  Christ,  have 
such  relation  to  him  crucified,  as  that  truly,  yet 
sacramentally  only,  they  are  sometimes  called  by 
the  name  of  the  things  they  represent,  to  wit,  the 
body  and  blood  of  Christ :  k  albeit  in  substance 
and  nature  they  still  remain  truly  and  only  bread 
and  wine  as  they  were  before. 1 

k  Matt.  26  :  26,  27,  28.  1  1  Cor.  11  :  26,  27,  28  ;  Matt. 
26  :  29. 

VI. 

That  doctrine  which  maintains  a  change  of  the 
substance  of  bread  and  wine  into  the  substance 
of  Christ's  body  and  blood,  (commonly  called 
transubstantiation,)  by  consecration  of  a  Priest, 
or  by  any  other  way,  is  repugnant  not  to  the 
Scripture  alone,  but  even  to  common  sense  and 
reason,  overthroweth  the  nature  of  the  Sacra- 
ment, and  hath  been,  and  is  the  cause  of  manifold 
superstitions,  yea  of  gross  idolatries.  m 

m  Acts  3:  21;    1  Cor.  1 1 :  24,  25,  26  ;    Luke  26  :  6,  39. 

VII. 

Worthy  receivers  outwardly  partaking  of  the 
visible  elements  in  this  Sacrament, n  do  then  also 
inwardly  by  faith,  really  and  indeed,  yet  not  car- 
nally and  corporally,  but  spiritually,  receive  and 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  93 

feed  upon  Christ  crucified,  and  all  benefits  of 
his  death  ;  the  body  and  blood  of  Christ  being 
then  not  corporally  or  carnally,  in,  with,  or  un- 
der the  bread  and  wine,  yet  as  really,  but  spir- 
itually present  to  the  faith  of  believers  in  that  or- 
dinance, as  the  elements  themselves  are  to  their 
outward  senses.  ° 

d  lCor.  11:28.       o  ICor.  10:  16. 

VIII. 

All  ignorant  and  ungodly  persons,  as  they  are 
unfit  to  enjoy  communion  with  Christ,  so  are 
they  unworthy  of  the  Lord's  table,  and  cannot 
without  great  sin  against  him  whilst  they  remain 
such,  partake  of  these  holy  mysteries,  P  or  be 
admitted  thereunto ;  <1  yea,  whosoever  shall  re- 
ceive unworthily,  are  guilty  of  the  body  and 
blood  of  the  Lord,  eating  and  drinking  judgment 
to  themselves. r 

p  1  Cor.  11  :  27,  28,  29  ;  2  Cor.  6  ;  14,  15,  16.  q  1  Cor.  5  j 
6,7,  13;  2Thes.  3:6,  14,  15;  Matt  7  :  6.  r  1  Cor.  11: 
27,  29. 


94  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

CHAP.  XXXI. 

OF  THE  STATE  OF  MAN  AFTER  DEATH,  AND  OF 

THE  RESURRECTION  OF  THE  DEAD. 

I. 

The  bodies  of  men  after  death  return  to  dust, 
and  see  corruption,  a  but  their  souls,  (which  nei- 
ther die  nor  sleep,)  having  an  immortal  subsist- 
ence, immediately  return  to  God  who  gave  them ;  b 
the  souls  of  the  righteous  being  then  made  per- 
fect in  holiness,  are  received  into  the  highest 
heavens,  where  they  behold  the  face  of  God  in 
light  and  glory,  waiting  for  the  full  redemption 
of  their  bodies ;  c  and  the  souls  of  the  wicked 
are  cast  into  hell,  wrhere  they  remain  in  torment, 
and  utter  darkness,  reserved  for  the  judgment  of 
the  great  day  :  d  besides  these  two  places  of  souls 
separated  from  their  bodies  the  Scripture  ac- 
knowledged none. 

a  Gen.  3  :  19  ;  Acts  13  :  36.  b  Luke  23  :  43  ;  Eccl.  12 :  7. 
c  Heb.  12  :  23  ;  2  Cor.  5  :  1,  6,  8  ;  Phil.  1  :  23  ;  Acts  3:21; 
Eph.  4  :  10.  d  Luke  16  :  23,  24  ;  Acts  1  :  25  ■  Jude  5:6: 
1  Peter  3  :  19. 

II. 

At  the  last  day,  such  as  are  found  alive,  shall 
not  die,  but  be  changed;  e  and  all  the  dead  shall 
be  raised  up  with  the  self-same  bodies,  and  none 
other,  although  with  different  qualities,  which 
shall  be  united  again  to  their  souls  forever.  f 


A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH.  95 

e  1  Thes.  4  :  17  ;  1  Cor.  15  [  51,  52.  f  Job  19  :  26,  27  ; 
1  Cor.  15  :  42,  43,  44. 

III. 

The  bodies  of  the  unjust  shall,  by  the  power  of 
Christ,  be  raised  to  dishonor  ;  the  bodies  of  the 
just,  by  his  Spirit,  unto  honor,  and  be  made  con- 
formable unto  his  own  glorious  body.  S 

g  Acts  24  :  15  ;   John  5  :  28,  29 ;  1  Cor.  15  :  42  ;   Phil.  3  :  21. 


CHAP.   XXXII. 


OF    THE    LAST    JUDGMENT. 


I. 

God  hath  appointed  a  day  wherein  he  will 
judge  the  world  in  righteousness  by  Jesus  Christ,  a 
to  whom  all  power  and  judgment  is  given  of  the 
Father ;  b  in  which  day,  not  only  the  apostate 
angels  shall  be  judged,  c  but  likewise  all  persons 
that  have  lived  upon  earth,  shall  appear  before 
the  tribunal  of  Christ,  to  give  an  account  of  their 
thoughts,  words,  and  deeds,  and  to  receive  ac- 
cording to  what  they  have  done  in  the  body, 
whether  it  be  good  or  evil.  d 

a  Acts  17  :  31.       b  John  5  :  22,  27.       c  1  Cor.  6:3;    Jude 

5:6;    2  Fet.  2:4.       d  2  Cor.  5  :  10  ;    Eccl.  12  :  14  ;    Rom.  2  : 

16,  and  14  :  10,  12  ;    Matt  12  :  36,  37. 


96  A    CONFESSION    OF    FAITH. 

II. 

The  end  of  God's  appointing  this  day,  is  for 
the  manifestation  of  the  glory  of  his  mercy  in  the 
eternal  salvation  of  the  elect,  and  of  his  justice 
in  the  damnation  of  the  reprobate,  who  are  wick- 
ed and  disobedient ;  for  then  shall  the  righteous 
go  into  everlasting  life,  and  receive  that  fulness 
of  joy  and  glory,  with  everlasting  reward  in  the 
presence  of  the  Lord  ;  but  the  wicked  who  know- 
not  God,  and  obey  not  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ, 
shall  be  cast  into  eternal  torments,  and  be  pun- 
ished with  everlasting  destruction  from  the  pre- 
sence of  the  Lord,  and  from  the  glory  of  his 
power.  e 

e  Matt.  25  :  31  to  end  ;  Rom.  2  :  5,  6,  and  9  :  22,  23  ;  Matt. 
25  :  21  ;    Acts  3  :  19  ;    2  Thes.  1  :  7  to  10. 

III. 

As  Christ  would  have  us  to  be  certainly  per- 
suaded that  there  shall  be  a  judgment,  both  to  de- 
ter all  men  from  sin,  and  for  the  greater  conso- 
lation of  the  godly  in  their  adversity  ; f  so  will 
he  have  that  day  unknown  to  men,  that  they  may 
shake  off  all  carnal  security,  and  be  always  watch- 
ful, because  they  know  not  at  what  hour  the 
Lord  will  come,  and  may  be  ever  prepared  to 
say,  Come,  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly.  Amen,  g 

f2  Pet  3:  11,  14;  2  Cor.  5  :  10,  11;  2  Thes  1:5,  6,  7; 
Luke  21 :  27,  28  ;  Rom.  8  :  23,  24,  25.  g  Matt.  24  :  36,  42,  43, 
44  ;    Mark  13  :  35,  36,  37  ;    Luke  12  :  35,  36  ;   Rev.  22  :  20. 


THE 

ASSENTED    TO    BT    THE    UNITED    MINISTERS, 
FORMERLY   CALLED 

PRESBYTERIAN  AND  CONGREGATIONAL. 

AND    ALSO, 

ARTICLES, 

FOB  THE  ADMINISTRATION    OF 

CHURCH    DISCIPLINE, 

UNANIMOUSLY  AGREED  UPON,   AND  CONSENTED  TO,  BY  THE 

ELDERS   AND  MESSENGERS  OF  THE  CHURCHES  IN  THE 

COLONY    OF    CONNECTICUT,    IN    NEW  ENGLAND, 

ASSEMBLED  BY  DELEGATION  AT  S4YBROOK, 

SEPTEMBER  9TH,  1708. 


Phil.  3 :  5.  Let  us,  therefore,  as  many  as  be  perfect,  be  thus 
minded  ;  and  if  in  any  thing  ye  be  otherwise  minded,  God 
shall  reveal  even  this  unto  you. 

Eph.  4  :  3.  Endeavoring  to  keep  the  unity  of  the  Spirit  in  the 
bond  of  peace. 


NEW-LONDON,  CONN.   PRINTED,   1710. 
HARTFORD,  RE-PRINTED  BY  P.  B.  GLEASON  &  CO. 

NO.    146,  MAIN-STREET. 

1838. 


PREFACE, 


There  is  no  Constitution  on  earth,  hath  ever 
been  established  on  such  sure  foundation,  nor  so 
fully  provided  for  its  subsistence,  as  the  Church 
of  God — It  being  built  on  the  Prophets  and  Apos- 
tles, Jesus  Christ  himself  being  the  chief  corner 
stone.  Hence,  therefore,  it  hath  from  its  holy  hill 
beheld  the  ruins  of  the  greatest  States  and  most 
nourishing  Empires  ;  having  continued  in  safety, 
free  from  the  fatal  accidents  of  time,  and  triumph- 
ed not  only  over  the  rage  of  men,  but  also  the 
repeated  insults  of  the  gates  of  hell.  And  though 
it  hath  been  often  straitened  as  to  its  extent,  and 
lessened  as  to  its  number,  yet  hath  remained  firm 
on  its  own  basis :  Yea,  when  most  reduced,  it 
hath  forever  made  good  that  motto,  Depressa 
Resurgo  ;  and  so  it  shall  continue  to  the  end  of 
the  world.  But,  to  the  shame  of  its  offenders,  the 
church  hath  suffered  most  from  the  wounds, 
which  she  hath  received  in  the  house  of  her 
friends,  from  those  wolves  that  have  come  to  her 
in  sheep's  clothing.  Damnable  errors  and  here- 
sies have  arisen  from  within  her,  whereby  she 
hath    sometimes  been  cast   into   horrible   shades 


100  PREFACE. 

of  darkness,  as  Rev.  9  :  2.  When  the  bottomless 
pit  was  opened,  the  smoke  ascending  darkened  the 
sun  and  air.  Yet  when  thus  grievously  black- 
ened, a  comeliness  remained  still.  Otherwhiles 
she  is  seen  bleeding  with  the  wounds  of  schism 
and  contention,  offensive  and  hurtful  to  her  sacred 
head  and  members,  for  the  undivided  head  re- 
joiceth  in  an  undivided  body.  His  undefiled  is 
but  one.  Cant.  6:9.  As  she  becomes  divided, 
she  becomes  defiled — and  hereby  also  the  mutual 
offices  of  the  respective  members  of  this  undefiled 
one,  are  interrupted  to  the  prejudice  of  the  whole. 
Whence  follow  great  disorders,  as  when  the  eye 
will  not  see  for  the  hand,  nor  the  head  take  care 
of  the  feet,  nor  our  union  to  Christ  be  acknowl- 
edged a  sufficient  bond  to  establish  a  relation 
between  members  in  particular.  1  Cor.  12  :  27. 
God's  Providence  forever  bears  the  upper  hand 
in  these  events,  who  suffers  the  corrupt  minds  of 
men  to  run  into  errors  and  divisions,  that  the 
approved  may  be  made  manifest.  1  Cor.  11  :  19. 
Such  ill-minded  persons  being  threatened  with  a 
wo,  that  are  the  authors  or  promoters  of  such 
offences.  The  Atheist  endeavors  to  overthrow  the 
whole  constitution  of  religion  :  The  Deist  to  take 
away  all  that  part  of  it  that  promiseth  sinners  any 
safety  from  the  wrath  to  come,  and  retain  no  more 
than  what  is  enough  to  condemn  him,  and  take  away 


PREFACE.  101 

all  excuse  for  his  disobedience.  Rom.  1  :  20.  The 
church  of  Christ  hath  also  been  a  great  sufferer 
from  the  immoralities  and  disorderly  walking  of 
those  that  are  related  to  her,  whose  leaven  hath 
sometimes  hazarded  the  whole  lump.  1  Cor.  5  ;  6. 
Whose  unseemly  practices  have  given  advantage 
to  enemies  to  speak  evil  of  the  ways  of  God,  and 
to  question  the  truth  of  our  holy  religion,  and  the 
sincerity  of  the  professors  thereof.  These  must 
be  acknowledged  to  be  spots  and  blemishes.  2  Pet. 
2  :  13.  The  wisdom  of  our  Law-giver,  King,  and 
Judge ;  who  alone  hath  the  original  sovereignty  of 
giving  being  to,  and  laying  the  foundations  of  the 
church,  and  whose  only  is  the  legislative  power 
therein  ;  hath  given  such  ample  rights  and  privi- 
leges to  the  church,  and  such  excellent  rules  for 
its  government,  as  are  inviting  to  strangers,  like  a 
city  set  on  a  hill.  Matt.  5  :  14.  And  hath  lodged 
the  executive  power  in  approved  hands ;  that  those 
who  love  the  church  may  be  in  peace,  and  her 
enemies  may  find  her  terrible  as  an  army  with 
banners ;  and  that  she  might  yield  seasonable  edi- 
fication to  those  that  walk  regularly  within  her 
limits,  and  be  able  to  discharge  herself  of  impen- 
itent and  incorrigible  offenders.  Many  of  the 
forementioned  mischiefs  have  to  our  sorrow  afflict- 
ed the  churches  within  this  government,  and  by 
degrees  we  have  fallen  under  much  decay — 
9* 


102  PREFACE. 

Whereupon,  our  difficulties  have  been  of  a  long 
time  troublesome,  for  the  healing  our  wounds,  a 
more  explicate  asserting  the  rules  of  government 
sufficiently  provided  in  the  holy  word  hath  been 
thought  highly  expedient — Wherefore, 

The  Honorable,  the  General  Assembly  of  this 
Colony,  out  of  a  tender  regard  to  the  welfare  of 
the  Churches  within  the  limits  of  their  govern- 
ment, were  pleased  to  appoint  the  several  elders 
of  each  county,  with  messengers  from  their 
Churches  to  meet  in  council;  in  which  they  should 
endeavor  to  agree  in  some  general  rules  conform- 
able to  the  Word  of  God  for  a  method  of  disci- 
pline to  be  practised  in  our  Churches.  These 
several  councils  having  met  and  drawn  up  some 
rules  for  Church  government,  did  by  their  dele- 
gates meet  and  constitute  one  General  Assembly 
of  the  Churches  of  this  colony,  at  Saybrook,  Sept. 
9th,  1708.  Who,  after  a  full  consent  and  agree- 
ment unto  the  Confession  of  Faith  assented  unto 
by  the  Synod  of  Boston,  did,  being  studious  of 
keeping  the  unity  of  the  Spirit  in  the  bond  of  peace, 
Eph.  4 :  3.,  agree  that  the  Heads  of  Agreement 
assented  to  by  the  united  brethren  formerly  called 
Presbyterian  and  Congregational  in  England,  be 
observed  by  the  Churches  throughout  this  colony  ; 
which  are  herewith  published  :  and  after  conside- 
ration of  the  several  draughts  of  the  county  couu- 


PREFACE.  103 

cils,  did,  with  a  Christian  condescension,  and  fra- 
ternal amicableness,  unanimously  agree  to  the 
Articles  for  the  Administration  of  Church  Disci- 
pline now  offered  to  public  view,  all  which  being 
presented,  were  allowed  of  and  established  by  the 
General  Assembly  of  this  colony,  as  by  their  acts 
appears.  For  the  better  satisfaction  of  our  people, 
we  have  undertaken  a  task,  acceptable  we  trust 
unto  many,  though  it  escape  not  the  exceptions 
of  some,  in  subjoining  Scriptures  for  confirm- 
ation of  the  Heads  of  Agreement,  which  we  have 
not  seen  added  thereunto.  The  aforesaid  articles 
consist  in  two  heads,  The  one  holding  forth  the 
power  of  particular  Churches  in  the  management  of 
Discipline  confirmed  by  Scriptures  annexed. 

The  other  serves  to  preserve,  promote,  or  recover 
the  peace  and  edification  of  the  Churches  by  the 
means  of  a  consociation  of  the  Elders  and  Churches, 
or  of  an  association  of  Elders  :  Both  which  we 
are  agreed  have  countenance  from  the  Scriptures, 
and  the  propositions  in  answer  to  the  second 
question  given  by  the  Synod  met  at  Boston,  1662. 
In  both  which  having  respect  to  the  divine  pre- 
cepts of  fraternal  union,  and  that  principle  uni- 
versally acknowledged,  Quod  tangit  omnes  debet 
tractari  ab  omnibus.  The  Scriptures  are  added 
for  the  illustration  of  the  substance  of  the  above- 
mentioned  articles,  yet  with  an  apprehension  that 


104  PREFACE. 

there  may  be  alterations  made,  and  further  con- 
descensions agreed  upon,  which  shall  afterwards 
appear  necessary  for  the  order  and  edification  of 
our  Churches. 

As  we  have  labored  in  this  affair  to  approve 
ourselves  unto  God,  so  we  are  cheerful  with  hum- 
ble prayer  for  his  blessing  to  recommend  the 
Heads  of  Agreement,  with  the  subsequent  articles, 
unto  the  acceptance  and  observation  of  our 
people  ;  hoping,  till  it  please  the  Lord  to  send 
forth  further  light  and  truth  in  these  more  con- 
troversial matters,  this  method  may  be  a  blessed 
means  of  our  better  unanimity7  and  success  in  our 
Lord's  work  for  the  gathering  and  edifying  of  the 
body  of  Christ  ;  for  which  we  bespeak  the  con- 
curring prayers  of  all  that  fear  the  Lord. 


HEADS  OF  AGREEMENT, 

ASSENTED     TO     BY     THE     UNITED     MINISTERS 

FORMERLY    CALLED     PRESBYTERIAN    AND 

CONGREGATIONAL. 


I.     Of  Churches  and  Church  Members. 

I.  We  acknowledge  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  to 
have  one  Catholic  Church  or  Kingdom,  compre- 
hending all  that  are  united  to  him,  whether  in 
heaven  or  earth.  And  do  conceive  the  whole  mul- 
titude of  visible  believers,  and  their  infant  seed, 
(commonly  called  the  Catholic  visible  Church) 
to  belong  to  Christ's  spiritual  kingdom  in  this 
world.  But,  for  the  notion  of  a  Catholic  visible 
Church  here,  as  it  signifies  its  having  been  col- 
lected into  any  formed  society,  under  a  visible 
common  head  on  earth,  whether  one  person 
singly,  or  many  collectively,  we,  with  the  rest  of 
Protestants,  unanimously  disclaim  it. 

Eph.  I  :  10, 22,  and  44  ;  Eph.  5  :  27  ;  1  Cor.  12  :  12,  13; 
Gen.  17:7;  Acts  2  :  39  ;  Matt.  23  :  7  to  10. 


106  HEADS    OF    AGREEMENT. 

II.  We  agree,  that  particular  societies  of  visible 
saints,  who  under  Christ  their  head,  are  statedly 
joined  together,  for  ordinary  communion  with  one 
another  in  all  the  ordinances  of  Christ,  are  par- 
ticular churches,  and  are  to  be  owned  by  each 
other,  as  instituted  churches  of  Christ,  though  dif- 
fering in  apprehensions  and  practice  in  some  les- 
ser things. 

1  Cor.  14  :  2,  3,  and  1  :  2,  and  12  :  27  ;  Rev.  1:4; 
Rom.  14  :  1. 

III.  That  none  shall  be  admitted  as  members, 
in  order  to  communion  in  all  the  special  ordinan- 
ces of  the  Gospel,  but  such  persons  as  are  know- 
ing and  sound  in  the  fundamental  doctrine  of  the 
Christian  religion ;  without  scandal  in  their  lives  ; 
and,  to  a  judgment  regulated  by  the  word  of  God, 
are  persons  of  visible  holiness  and  honesty ;  cred- 
ibly professing  cordial  subjection  to  Jesus  Christ. 

Prov.  19:2;  Acts  8  :  32  ;  2  Tim.  2:19;  Ezek.  44  :  9  ; 
Rom.  10:10;  2  Cor.  9:13. 

IV.  A  competent  number  of  such  visible  saints, 
(as  before  described)  do  become  the  capable  sub- 
jects of  stated  communion  in  all  the  special  ordi- 
nances of  Christ,  upon  their  mutual  declared  con- 
sent and  agreement  to  walk  together  therein  ac- 
cording to  Gospel  rule.  In  which  declaration, 
different   degrees  of  explicitness,  shall  no  ways 


HEADS    OF    AGREEMENT.  10? 

hinder  such   churches  from  owning   each  other, 
as  instituted   churches. 

ICor.  14:23;  Acts  20:7;  and2:41,42;  Rom.  14:3. 

V.  Though  parochial  bounds  be  not  of  divine 
right,  yet  for  common  edification,  the  members  of 
a  particular  church  ought  (as  much  as  conven- 
iently may  be)  to  live  near  one   another. 

1  Thes.  5:11,  12,  13  ;  Heb.  10  :  25. 

VI.  That  each  particidar  church  hath  right  to 
choose  their  own  officers  ;  and  being  furnished 
with  such  as  are  duly  qualified  and  ordained  ac- 
cording to  the  Gospel  rule,  hath  authority  from 
Christ  for  exercising  government,  and  of  enjoying 
all  the  ordinances  of  worship  within  itself. 

Acts  6:2;  Tit.  1  :  5,  6,  7  ;  1  Tim.  4  :  14  ;  Matt.  18  :  17; 
ICor.  11  :2. 

VII.  In  the  administration  of  church  power,  it 
belongs  to  the  Pastors  and  other  Elders  of  even' 
particular  church,  if  such  there  be,  to  rule  and 
govern  ;  and  to  the  brotherhood  to  consent  accord- 
ing to  the  rule  of  the  Gospel. 

1  Tim.  5:17;  Heb.  3:17;  1  Cor.  4  :  1,  and  5  :  4  ; 
2  Cor.  6  :  8,  10. 

VIII.  That  all  professors  as  before  described, 
are  bound  in  duty,  as  they  have  opportunity,  to 
join  themselves  as  fixed  members  of  some  particu- 


108  HEADS    OF     AGREEMENT. 

lar  church  ;  their  thus  joining,  being  part  of  their 
professed  subjection  to  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  and 
an  instituted  means  of  their  establishment  and  ed- 
ification ;  whereby  they  are  under  the  pastoral 
care,  and  in  case  of  scandalous  or  offensive  walk- 
ing, may  be  authoritatively  admonished  or  cen- 
sured for  their  recovery,  for  vindication  of  the 
truth,  and  the  church  professing  it. 

Acts  2  :  47,  and  5  :  13  ;  2  Cor.  9  :  13  ;  Heb.  10  :  24, 25; 
1  Thes.  5  :  12,  14  ;  Acts  20  :  28. 

IX.  That  a  visible  professor,  thus  joined  to  a 
particular  church,  ought  to  continue  steadfast 
with  the  said  church  ;  and  not  forsake  the  min- 
istry, and  ordinances  there  dispensed,  without  an 
orderly  seeking  a  recommendation  unto  another 
church  ;  which  ought  to  be  given,  when  the  case 
of  the  person  apparently  requires  it. 

Acts  2  :  42  ;  Heb.  10  :  25  ;  Rom.  16  :  1,  2. 


II.     Of  the  Ministry. 

I.  We  agree  that  the  ministerial  office  is  insti- 
tuted by  Jesus  Christ  for  the  gathering,  guiding, 
edifying,  and  governing  of  his  church  ;  and  to 
continue  to  the  end  of  the  world. 

Eph.  4  ;  11,  12  ;  Matt.  28  :  19,  20. 

II.  They  who  are  called  to  this  office  ought  to 
be  endued  with  competent  learning   and  ministe- 


HEADS    OF    AGREEMENT.  109 

rial  gifts,  as  also  with  the  grace  of  God,  sound  in 
judgment,  not  novices  in  the  faith  and  knowledge 
of  the  Gospel :  without  scandal,  of  holy  conver- 
sation, and  such  as  devote  themselves  to  the  work 
and  service  thereof. 

2Tim.  2  :  24  ;  Rom.  12  :  6  ;  1  Tim.  3  :  2,  3,  4,  5,  6,  7  ; 
Tit.  1  :6,  7;   1  Tim.  4:16. 

III.  That  ordinarily  none  shall  be  ordained  to 
the  work  of  this  ministry,  but  such  as  are  called 
and  chosen  thereunto  by  a  particular  church. 

Acts  14  :  23. 

IV.  That  in  so  great  and  weighty  a  matter  as 
the  calling  and  choosing  a  pastor,  we  judge  it  or- 
dinarily requisite,  that  every  such  church  consult 
and  advise  with  the  pastors  of  neighboring  con- 
gregations. 

Prov.  11  :14,  and  15:22. 

V.  That  after  such  advice,  the  person  con- 
sulted about,  being  chosen  by  the  brotherhood  of 
that  particular  church  over  which  he  is  to  be  set, 
and  he  accepting,  be  duly  ordained  and  set  apart 
to  his  office  over  them  ;  wherein  'tis  ordinarily 
requisite  that  the  pastors  of  neighboring  congrega- 
tions concur  with  the  preaching  Elder  or  Elders, 
if  such  there  be. 

Acts  14  :  23,  and  1  :  23,  and  13  :  23  ;   1  Tim.  4  :  14. 
10 


110  HEADS    OF    AGREEMENT. 

VI.  That  whereas,  such  ordination  only  is  in- 
tended for  such  as  never  before  had  been  ordained 
to  the  ministerial  office  ;  if  any  judge,  that  in  case 
also  of  the  removal  of  one  formerly  ordained,  to  a 
new  station,  or  pastoral  charge,  there  ought  to  be 
a  like  solemn  recommending  him  and  his  labors  to 
the  grace  and  blessing  of  God,  no  different  senti- 
ments or  practice  herein,  shall  be  any  occasion  of 
contention,  or  breach  of  communion  among  us. 

Phil.  3  :  15  ;  Eph.  4  :  2,  3. 

VII.  It  is  expedient  that  they  who  enter  on 
the  work  of  preaching  the  Gospel,  be  not  only 
qualified  for  the  communion  of  saints  ;  but  also, 
that  except  in  cases  extraordinary,  they  give  proof 
of  their  gifts  and  fitness  for  the  said  work,  unto 
the  Pastors  of  churches  of  known  abilities,  to 
discern  and  judge  of  their  qualifications ;  that 
they  may  be  sent  forth  with  solemn  approbation 
and  prayer ;  which  we  judge  needful,  that  no 
doubt  may  remain  concerning  their  being  called 
unto  the  work  ;  and  for  preventing  (as  much  as 
in  us  lies)  ignorant  and  rash  intruders. 

1  Tim.  1  :  22,  and  3  :  6. 


HEADS    OP    AGREEMENT.  Ill 

III.     Of  Censures. 

I.  As  it  cannot  be  avoided,  but  that  in  the  purest 
churches  on  earth,  there  will  sometimes  offences 
and  scandals  arise  by  reason  of  hypocrisy  and 
prevailing  corruption  ;  so  Christ  hath  made  it  the 
duty  of  every  church  to  reform  itself,  by  spiritual 
remedies,  appointed  by  him,  to  be  applied  in  all 
such  cases,  viz  :  Admonition  and  Excommunica- 
tion. 

Matt.  8:7;  Heb.  12  :  15  ;  Tit.  3  :  10  ;  1  Cor.  5  :  6. 

II.  Admonition,  being  the  rebuking  of  an  offend- 
ing member  in  order  to  conviction,  is  in  case  of 
private  offences  to  be  performed  according  to  the 
rule  in  Matt.  18  :  15, 16,  17  ;  and  in  case  of  public 
offences  openly  before  the  church,  as  the  honor  of 
the  Gospel,  and  the  nature  of  the  scandal  shall 
require  ;  and  if  either  of  the  Admonitions  take 
place  for  the  recovery  of  the  fallen  person,  all 
further  proceedings  in  a  way  of  censure  are  there- 
on to  cease,  and  satisfaction  to  be  declared  ac- 
cordingly. 

ITim.  1:20;  Matt.  18  :  15, 17. 

III.  When  all  due  means  are  used,  according 
to  the  order  of  the  Gospel,  for  the  restoring  an 
offending  and  scandalous  brother,  and  he,  notwith- 


112  HEADS    OF    AGREEMENT. 

standing,  remains  impenitent,  the  censure  of  Ex- 
communication is  to  be  proceeded  unto  ;  wherein 
the  Pastor  and  other  Elders  (if  there  be  such)  are 
to  lead  and  go  before  the  church  ;  and  the  broth- 
erhood to  give  their  consent  in  a  way  of  obedience 
unto  Christ,  and  to  the  Elders,  as  over  them  in  the 
Lord. 

Matt.  18  :  15,  16, 17  ;  Tit.  3  :  10  ;  1  Cor.  5  ;  1  Thes.  5  : 
5,  12. 

IV.  It  may  sometimes  come  to  pass,  that  a 
church  member,  not  otherwise  scandalous,  may 
fully  withdraw  and  divide  himself  from  the  com- 
munion of  the  church  to  which  he  belongeth  :  In 
which  case,  when  all  due  means  for  the  reducing 
him  prove  ineffectual,  he  having  thereby  cut  him- 
self off  from  that  church's  communion  ;  the  church 
may  justly  esteem  and  declare  itself  discharged  of 
any  further  inspection  over  him. 

Heb.  10  :  25  ;  Rom.  16  :  17  ;  2  Thes.  3  :  14. 


IV.     Of  Communion  of  Churches. 

I.  We  agree  that  particular  churches  ought  not 
to  walk  so  distinct  and  separate  from  each  other, 
as  not  to  have  care  and  tenderness  towards  one 
another.     But  their  Pastors  ought  to  have  fire- 


HEADS    OF    AGREEMENT.  113 

quent  meetings  together,  that  by  mutual  advice, 
support,     encouragement,    and    brotherly    inter- 
course, they  may  strengthen  the  hearts  and  hands 
of  each  other  in  the  ways  of  the  Lord. 
Acts  15  :  23,  and  20  :  17,  28. 

II.  That  none  of  our  particular  churches  shall 
be  subordinate  to  one  another,  each  being  endued 
with  equality  of  power  from  Jesus  Christ.  And 
that  none  of  the  said  particular  churches,  their 
officer  or  officers,  shall  exercise  any  power,  or 
have  any  superiority  over  any  other  church  or 
their  officers. 

Rev.  1:4;  Cant.  8  :  8  ;   1  Cor.  16  :  19  ;  Acts  15  :  23. 

III.  That  known  members  of  particular  church- 
es constituted  as  aforesaid,  may  have  occasional 
communion  with  one  another  in  the  ordinances  of 
the  Gospel,  viz :  the  Word,  Prayer,  Sacraments, 
Singing  of  Psalms,  dispensed  according  to  the 
mind  of  Christ :  unless  that  church  with  which 
they  desire  communion,  hath  any  just  exception 
against  them. 

Acts  18  :  27  ;  Rom.  16  : 1,  2  ;  2  Cor.  3:1;  1  Cor. 
12  :  13. 

IV.  That  we  ought  not  to  admit  any  one  to  be 
a  member  of  our  respective  congregations,  that 
hath  joined  himself  to  another,  without  endeavors 

10* 


114  HEADS    OF    AGREEMENT. 

of  mutual   satisfaction  of  the   congregation  con- 
cerned. 

Heb.  13  :  1 ;  1  Cor.  14  :  40. 

V.  That  one  church  ought  not  to  blame  the 
proceedings  of  another,  until  it  hath  heard  what 
that  church  charged,  its  elders  or  messengers  can 
say  in  vindication  of  themselves,  from  any  charge 
of  irregular  or  injurious  proceedings. 

Matt.  7:1;  Prov.  18  :  17  ;  Dent.  13 :  14. 

VI.  That  we  are  most  willing  and  ready  to 
give  an  account  of  our  church  proceedings  to  each 
other,  when  desired,  for  preventing  or  removing 
any  offences  that  may  arise  among  us.  Likewise 
we  shall  be  ready  to  give  the  right  hand  of  fellow- 
ship, and  walk  together  according  to  the  Gospel 
rules  of  communion  of  churches. 

1  Pet  3:  15;  Rom.  14  :  19  ;  Acts  11  :  2,  3, 4, 18;  Josh. 
22:  13,21,30;  Gal.  2:9;  Col.  2  :  5  ;  1  Pet.  4  :  10,  11  ; 
1  Cor.  10 :  24  ;   Rom.  1 ;  15  ;   Gal.  6  :  10. 


V.     Of  Deacons  and  Ruling  Elders. 

We  agree,  the  office  of  a  Deacon  is  of  divine 
appointment,  and  that  it  belongs  to  their  office  to 
receive,  lay  out,  and  distribute  the  church's  stock 
to  its  proper  uses,  by  the  direction  of  the  Pastor 


HEADS    OF    AGREEMENT.  115 

and  brethren,  if  need  be.  And  whereas,  divers 
are  of  opinion,  that  there  is  also  the  office  of 
Ruling  Elders,  who  labor  not  in  word  and  doc- 
trine, and  others  think  otherwise  ;  we  agree  that 
this  difference  make  no  breach  among  us. 

Acts  6:  3,  5,  6;    Phil.  1:1;    1  Tim.  3:  8  to  13;    Rom. 
12:8;  1  Cor.  12:28;  lTim.5:  17;  Phil.  3 :  15,  16. 


VI.    Of  Occasional  Meeting  of  Ministers,  fyc. 

I.  We  agree  that  in  order  to  concord,  and  in 
other  weighty  and  difficult  cases,  it  is  needful  and 
according  to  the  mind  of  Christ,  that  the  Minis- 
ters of  the  several  churches  be  consulted  and  ad- 
vised with  about  such  matters. 

Prov.  24  :  6  ;  Acts  15  :  26. 

II.  That  such  meetings  may  consist  of  smaller 
or  greater  numbers,  as  the  matters  shall  require. 

III.  That  particular  churches,  their  respective 
elders  and  members,  ought  to  have  a  reverential 
regard  to  their  judgment,  so  given,  and  not  dissent 
therefrom,  without  apparent  grounds  from  the 
word  of  God. 

Acts  16  :  4,  5  ;  1  Cor.  14  :  32,  33  ;  Gal.  1  :  8  ;  1  Peter 
4.  11. 


116  HEADS    OF    AGREEMENT. 

VII.     Of  our  Demeanor  towards  ike  Civil  Ma- 
gistrate. 

I.  We  do  reckon  ourselves  obliged  continually 
to  pray  for  God's  protection,  guidance,  and  bles- 
sing upon  the  rulers  set  over  us. 

1  Tim.  2:2;  Psal.  20  :  1  to  4,  and  72 :  1. 

II.  That  we  ought  to  yield  unto  them  not  only 
subjection  in  the  Lord,  but  support,  according  to 
our  station  and  abilities. 

Matt.  22  :  21 ;  Rom.  12:5,6;  Neh.  5:18. 

III.  That  if  at  any  time,  it  shall  be  their  pleas- 
ure to  call  together  any  number  of  us,  to  require 
an  account  of  our  affairs,  and  the  state  of  our 
congregations,  we  shall  most  readily  express  all 
dutiful  regard  to  them  herein. 

Isa.  49  :  23  ;  2  Chron.  29  ;  4  to  11  ;  Rom.  13  :  1  ;  Tit. 
3:1. 


HEADS    OF    AGREEMENT.  117 

VIII.     Of  a  Confession  of  Faith. 

As  to  what  appertains  to  soundness  of  judg- 
ment in  matters  of  faith,  we  esteem  it  sufficient 
that  a  church  acknowledge  the  Scriptures  to  be 
the  word  of  God,  the  perfect  and  only  rule  of 
faith  and  practice,  and  own  either  the  doctrinal 
part  of  those  commonly  called  the  Articles  of  the 
Church  of  England,  or  the  Confession  or  Cate- 
chisms, shorter  or  larger,  compiled  by  the  Assem- 
bly at  Westminster,  or  the  Confession  agreed  on 
at  the  Savoy,  to  be  agreeable  to  the  said  rule. 

2  Tim.  1:13;  Eph.  4:5;  Phil.  2:1,2. 


IX.  Of  our  Duty  and  Deportment    towards  them 
that  are  not  in  Communion  with  us. 

I.  We  judge  it  our  duty  to  bear  a  Christian 
respect  to  all  Christians,  according  to  their  seve- 
ral ranks  and  stations,  that  are  not  of  our  persua- 
sion or  communion. 

1  Peter  2:17;  Rom.  12  :  10  ;  Gal.  6;  2;  Eph.  4:2; 
Rom.  14  :  tot. 

II.  As  for  such  as  may  be  ignorant  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Christian  Religion,  or  of  vicious 
conversation,  we   shall,  in  our  respective  places, 


118  HEADS    OF    AGREEMENT. 

as  they  give  opportunity,  endeavor  to  explain  to 
them  the  doctrine  of  life  and  salvation,  and  to 
our  utmost,  persuade  them  to  be  reconciled  to 
God. 

2  Tim.  2:  25;  2  Cor.  5  :  11,20. 

III.  That  such  who  appear  to  have  the  essen- 
tial requisites  to  Church-communion,  we  shall 
willingly  receive  them  in  the  Lord,  not  troubling 
them  with  disputes  about  lesser  matters. 

Rom.  14:1. 

As  we  assent  to  the  fore-mentioned  Heads 
of  Agreement,  so  we  unanimously  resolve, 
as  the  Lord  shall  enable  us,  to  practise 
according  to  them. 


ARTICLES, 

FOR  THE  ADMINISTRATION    OP 

CHURCH   DISCIPLINE, 

UNANIMOUSLY  AGREED  UPON,  AND  CONSENTED  TO,  BY  THE 
ELDERS  AND  ALL  THE  CHURCHES  IN  THE  COLONY  OF  CON- 
NECTICUT, IN  NEW  ENGLAND,  CONVENED  BY  DELEGATION 
IN  A  GENERAL  COUNCIL  AT  SAYBROOK,  SEPTEMBER  9TH, 
1708. 


I.  That  the  Elder  or  Elders  of  a  particular 
church,  with  the  consent  of  the  brethren  of  the 
same,  have  power  and  ought  to  exercise  church 
discipline  according  to  the  rule  of  God's  Word, 
in  relation  to  all  scandals  that  fall  out  within  the 
same.  And  it  may  be  meet  in  all  cases  of  diffi- 
culty for  the  respective  Pastors  of  particular 
churches,  to  take  advice  of  the  Elders  of  the 
churches  in  the  neighborhood,  before  they  pro- 
ceed to  censure  in  such  cases. 

Matt.  18  :  17  ;  Heb.  13  :  17  ;  1  Cor.  5  :  4,  5, 12 ;  2  Cor. 
2:6;   Prov.  11  :  14;  Acts  15  :  12. 

II.  That  the  churches  which  are  neighboring 
each  to  other,  shall  consociate  for  mutual  afford- 
ing to  each  other  such  assistance  as  may  be  re- 
quisite, upon   all  occasions   ecclesiastical.     And 


I 


120        ARTICLES  OF   CHURCH  DISCIPLINE. 

that  the  particular  pastors  and  churches,  within 
the  respective  counties  in  this  government,  shall 
be  one  consociation,  (or  more  if  they  shall  judge 
meet,)  for  the  end  aforesaid. 

Psal.  122  :  3,  4,  5,  and  133  :  1  ;  Eccl.  4  :  9  to  12  ;  Acts 
15  :  2,  6,  22,  23 ;  1  Tim.  4:14;  1  Cor.  16  :  1. 

III.  That  all  cases  of  scandal  that  fall  out 
within  the  circuit  of  any  of  the  aforesaid  conso- 
ciations shall  be  brought  to  a  council  of  the  El- 
ders ;  and  also  messengers  of  the  churches  within 
the  said  circuit,  i.  e.,  the  churches  of  one  conso- 
ciation, if  they  see  cause  to  send  messengers,  when 
there  shall  be  need  of  a  council  for  the  determi- 
nation of  them. 

3  John  9  :  10  ;  1  Cor.  16  :  1  ;  Gal  6  :  1,  2  ;  2  Cor.  13  : 
2  ;  Acts  15  :  22  ;  2  Cor.  8  :  23. 

IV.  That  according  to  the  common  practice  of 
our  churches,  nothing  shall  be  deemed  an  act  or 
judgment  of  any  council,  which  hath  not  the  ma- 
jor part  of  the  Elders  present  concurring,  and 
such  a  number  of  the  messengers  present  as  makes 
the  majority  of  the  council :  Provided  that  if  any 
such  church  shall  not  see  cause  to  send  any  mes- 
sengers to  the  council,  or  the  persons  chosen  by 
them  shall  not  attend  ;  neither  of  these  shall  be 
any  obstruction  to  the  proceedings  of  the  council, 
or  invalidate  any  of  their  acts. 

Acts  15:23;  1  Cor.  14  :  32,  33. 


ARTICLES    OF  CHURCH  DISCIPLINE.         121 

V.  That  when  any  case  is  orderly  brought  be- 
fore any  council  of  the  churches,  it  shall  there  be 
heard  and  determined,  which  (unless  orderly  re- 
moved from  thence)  shall  be  a  final  issue,  and  all 
parties  therein  concerned,  shall  sit  down  and  be 
determined  thereby.  And  the  council,  so  hearing, 
and  giving  the  result  or  final  issue,  in  the  said  case 
as  aforesaid,  shall  see  their  determination,  or 
judgment  duly  executed  and  attended  in  such  way 
or  manner,  as  shall  in  their  judgment  be  most 
suitable  and  agreeable  to  the  word  of  God. 

Acts  15  ;  1  Cor.  5  :  5  ;  2  Cor.  2  :  6, 11,  and  13  : 2 ;  Phil. 
3  :  15  ;    Rom.  14  :  2,  3. 

VI.  That,  if  any  Pastor  and  church  doth  obsti- 
nately refuse  a  due  attendance  and  conformity  to 
the  determination  of  the  council,  that  hath  the 
cognizance  of  the  case,  and  determineth  it  as 
above,  after  due  patience  used,  they  shall  be  re- 
puted guilty  of  scandalous  contempt,  and  dealt 
with  as  the  rule  of  God's  word  in  such  case  doth 
provide,  and  the  sentence  of  non -communion  shall 
be  declared  against  such  Pastor  and  church.  And 
the  churches  are  to  approve  of  the  said  sentence, 
by  withdrawing  from  the  communion  of  the  Pastor 
and  church  which  so  refuseth  to  be  healed. 

Rom.  16  :  17  ;    Matt.  18  :  15,  16,  17,  by  proportion  ; 
Gal.  2:11  to  14;    2  Thes.  3  :  6,  14. 
11 


122        ARTICLES  OF  CHURCH  DISCIPLINE. 

VII.  That  in  case  any  difficulties  shall  arise  in 
any  of  the  churches  in  this  colony,  which  cannot 
be  issued  without  considerable  disquiet,  that  church 
in  which  they  arise,  (or  that  minister,  or  member 
aggrieved  by  them,)  shall  apply  themselves  to 
the  council  of  the  consociated  churches  of  the 
circuit,  to  which  the  said  church  belongs,  who,  if 
they  see  cause,  shall  thereupon  convene,  hear  and 
determine  such  cases  of  difficulty,  unless  the  mat- 
ter brought  before  them,  shall  be  judged  so  great 
in  the  nature  of  it,  or  so  doubtful  in  the  issue,  or 
of  such  general  concern,  that  the  said  council 
shall  judge  best  that  it  be  referred  to  a  fuller  coun- 
cil, consisting  of  the  churches  of  the  other  con- 
sociation within  the  same  county,  (or  of  the  next 
adjoining  consociation  of  another  county,  if  there 
be  not  two  consociations  in  the  county  where  the 
difficulty  ariseth,)  who,  together  with  themselves, 
shall  hear,  judge,  determine,  and  finally  issue  such 
case  according  to  the  word  of  God. 

Prov.  11 :  14  ;  1  Cor.  14  :  33,  and  14  :  24,  by  proportion. 

VIII.  That  a  particular  church,  in  which  any 
difficulty  doth  arise,  may,  if  they  see  cause,  call 
a  council  of  the  consociated  churches  of  the  cir- 
cuit, to  which  the  said  church  belongs,  before  they 
proceed  to  sentence  therein  ;  but  there  is  not  the 
same  liberty  to  an  offending  brother  to  call  the  said 


ARTICLES  OF  CHURCH  DISCIPLINE.         123 

council,  before  the   church  to  which  he  belongs 
proceed  to  excommunication  in  the  said  case,  un- 
less with  the  consent  of  the  church. 
Acts  15:2;     Matt.  18:15,  16,  17. 

IX.  That  all  the  churches  of  the  respective 
consociations  shall  choose,  if  they  see  cause,  one 
or  two  members  of  each  church,  to  represent 
them  in  the  councils  of  the  said  churches,  as  occa- 
sion may  call  for  them,  who  shall  stand  in  that 
capacity  till  new  be  chosen  for  the  same  service, 
unless  any  church  shall  incline  to  choose  their 
messengers  anew,  upon  the  convening  of  such 
councils. 

Acts  15:2,4;    2  Cor.  8:23. 

X.  That  the  minister  or  ministers  of  the  county 
towns,  and  where  there  are  no  ministers  in  such 
towns,  the  two  next  ministers  to  the  said  town, 
shall  as  soon  as  conveniently  may  be,  appoint  a 
time  and  place,  for  the  meeting  of  the  Elders  and 
messengers  of  the  churches  in  the  said  county,  in 
order  to  their  forming  themselves  into  one  or  more 
consociations,  and  notify  the  said  time  and  place 
to  the  Elders  and  churches  of  that  county,  who 
shall  attend  at  the  same,  the  Elders  in  their  own 
persons,  and  the  churches  by  their  messengers,  if 
they  see  cause  to  send  them.  Which  Elders  and 
messengers,  so  assembled  in  council,  as  also  any 


124        ARTICLES  OF  CHURCH  DISCIPLINE. 

other  council  hereby  allowed  of,  shall  have  power 
to  adjourn  themselves  as  need  shall  be,  for  the 
space  of  one  year,  after  the  beginning  or  first 
session  of  the  said  council,  and  no  longer.  And 
that  minister  who  was  chosen  at  the  last  session  of 
any  council,  to  be  moderator,  shall  with  the  ad- 
vice and  consent  of  two  more  Elders,  (or  in  case 
of  the  moderator's  death,  any  two  Elders  of  the 
same  consociation,)  call  another  council  within 
the  circuit,  when  they  shall  judge  there  is  need 
thereof.  And  all  councils  may  prescribe  rules  as 
occasion  may  require,  and  whatsoever  they  shall 
judge  needful  within  their  circuit,  for  the  well- 
performing,  and  orderly-managing  their  several 
Acts,  to  be  attended  by  them,  or  matters  that 
come  under  their  cognizance. 

Phil.  4  :  8  ;  1  Cor.  14  :  40  ;  Phil.  3  :  15, 16  ;  Rom.  14  : 
2,3. 

XI.  That  if  any  person  or  persons  orderly  com- 
plained of  to  a  council,  or  that  are  witnesses  to 
such  complaints,  (having  regular  notification  to 
appear,)  shall  refuse  or  neglect  so  to  do,  in  the 
place,  and  at  the  time  specified  in  the  warning 
given,  except  they  or  he  give  some  satisfying  rea- 
son thereof  to  the  said  council,  they  shall  be 
judged  guilty  of  scandalous  contempt. 

Col.  2:5;    Heb.  13:17;    1  Thes.  5  :  14. 


ARTICLES  OF  CHURCH  DISCIPLINE.         125 

XII.  That  the  teaching  Elders  of  each  county 
shall  be  one  association,  (or  more  if  they  see 
cause,)  which  association  or  associations  shall  as- 
semble twice  a  year  at  least,  at  such  time  and 
place  as  they  shall  appoint,  to  consult  the  duties 
of  their  office,  and  the  common  interest  of  the 
churches  ;  who  shall  consider  and  resolve  ques- 
tions and  cases  of  importance  which  shall  be  offer- 
ed by  any  among  themselves,  or  others  ;  who  also 
shall  have  power  of  examining  and  recommend- 
ing the  candidates  of  the  ministry  to  the  work 
thereof. 

Psal.  133  : 1  ;  Acts  20  :  17,  28  to  32  ;  Mai.  2:7;  Matt. 
5  :  14  ;  Deut.  17  :  8,  9,  10  ;  1  Tim.  5  :  22  ;  2  Tim.  2:15; 
1  Tim.  3  :  6,  10  ;  Rom.  10  :  15  ;   1  Tim.  4  :  14. 

XIII.  That  the  said  associated  pastors  shall 
take  notice  of  any  among  themselves,  that  may 
be  accused  of  scandal,  or  heresy  unto,  or  cogni- 
zable by  them,  examine  the  matter  carefully,  and 
if  they  find  just  occasion,  shall  direct  to  the  call- 
ing of  the  council,  where  such  offenders  shall  be 
duly  proceeded  against. 

Lev.  19  :  17  ;  1  Cor.  5:6;  Tit.  3  :  10, 11  ;  Isa.  52  :  11  ; 
Mai.  3:3;  Tit.  1  :  6  to  9  ;  Deut.  13 :  14  ;  3  John  9,  10  ; 
Rev.  2  :  14,  15  ;  1  Tim.  1  :  20,  and  4 :  14. 

XIV.  That  the  said  associated  pastors  shall  also 
be  consulted  by  bereaved  churches,  belonging  to 
their  association, and  recommend  to  such  churches, 


126        ARTICLES  OF  CttURCH  DISCIPLINE. 

such  persons  as  may  be  fit  to  be  called  and  settled 
in  the  work  of  the  Gospel  ministry  among  them. 
And  if  such  bereaved  churches  shall  not  seasona- 
bly call  and  settle  a  minister  among  them,  the 
said  associated  pastors  shall  lay  the  state  of  such 
bereaved  churches  before  the  General  Assembly 
of  this  colony,  that  they  may  take  such  order 
concerning  them,  as  shall  be  found  necessary  for 
their  peace  and  edification. 

2  Cor.  11  :  28  ;  Phil.  2  :  19,  20,  21  ;  2  Tim.  2  :  15  ;  Tit. 
1  :  6  to  10  ;  Isa.  49  :  23. 

XV.  That  it  be  recommended  as  expedient 
that  all  the  associations  of  this  colony  do  meet  in 
a  General  Association,  by  their  respective  dele- 
gates, one  or  more  out  of  each  association,  once 
a  year  ;  the  first  meeting  to  be  at  Hartford,  at  the 
time  of  the  General  Election  next  ensuing  the 
date  hereof,  and  so  annually  in  all  the  counties 
successively,  at  such  time  and  place,  as  they,  the 
said  delegates,  shall  in  their  annual  meetings  ap- 
point. 

Heb.  13:  1. 


FINIS. 


ERRATA. 

The  reader  will  please  correct  the  following  with  a  pen. 
Page  20,  2d  line  of  references,  for  "  11,"  read  "  6." 
Page  22,  }  in,  1st  line,  for  "  decrees,"  read  "  decree." 
Page  27,  \  iv,  4th  line,  for  u  determined,"  read  "  determinate." 
Page  29,  5th  line,  insert  the  word  u  the"  after  "  withdraweth." 
Page  35,  3d  line,  for  "  Psal.  32,"  read  "  Psal.  22." 
Page  39,  Chap,  ix,  3d  line,  for  "force,"  read  "forced." 
Page  55, 10th  line,  for  "preceed,"  read  "proceed." 
Page  91,  2d  line  from  bottom,  for  "  11  Cor.  1,"  read  "  1  Cor.  11." 
Page  97,  first  reference,  for  "  Phil.  3 : 5,"  read  "  Phil.  3 :  15." 


